Plant Family Annonaceae

Annonaceae Description

Distribution: A family of about 120 genera and 2100 species, distributed mainly in the tropics of Old and New World, usually at lower altitudes; represented by 4 genera and 6 species in Pakistan, all except Miliusa are cultivated.
Detailed DescriptionTrees, shrubs or rarely woody climbers, often aromatic; indumentum (if present) of simple or stellate hairs or sc
aly. Leaves alternate, mostly distichous, thin to coriaceous, entire, exstipulate, often with a glaucous sheen. Flowers usually on the young leafy shoots or on the old wood, rarely on underground suckers; terminal or axillary or extra-axillary; bisexual, rarely unisexual, regular; solitary, paired, cymose or fasciculate, sessile or stalked; mosly bracteate and bracteolate. Sepals 2-3, valvate, rarely imbricate, free or ± united, rarely accrescent. Petals 3-6-(-12), often fleshy, usually in two equal or unequal whorls, rarely in one whorl of 6, 4, or 3, valvate or imbricate, rarely open in bud; free or ± united at base, rarely absent. Stamens usually numerous, spirally (often compactly) arranged on the flat, convex or conical receptacle, rarely 6-12 and whorled; sometimes outer stamens petaloid; anther linear to rounded, dehiscence extrorse or lateral, rarely apical or introrse; connective usually broad and produced beyond the anther-locules, apex truncate, oblique, capitate, convex, conical or acute; filaments usually short and free, rarely elongate and united in a cone over the carpels. Carpels 1-numerous, free or basally united, or completely united to form a unilocular ovary with parietal placentation; ovules 1-numerous, styles short, thick, free, or rarely connate, stigma capitate or oblong. Fruit consisting of 1-several fleshy or woody, stipitate or sessile monocarps, mosly indehiscent; or fused to form aggregate fruit; or 1-locular and numerous seeded. Seeds vertical to horizontal, sometimes arillate, endosperm abundant, ruminate; embryo minute.
Identification Key of Annonaceae

1. Outer petals minute, (mostly not discernible from the sepals) connective scarcely produced beyond the anther-locules, not concealing the latter
1. Outer petals well developed, equal to or larger than the inner (occasionally inner petals much reduced or absent); connective prominently produced and expanded beyond the anther-locules and concealing them
2. Petals of inner whorl distinctly smaller, frequently reduced or absent; carpels at least basally connate, completely fusing in fruit
2. Petals of both whorls subequal; carpels free, developing into distinct monocarps, never forming a syncarpous fruit
3. Mostly climbing shrubs; peduncle flattened, at length indurated, mostly hooked
3. Trees or shrubs, never climbing; peduncle neither flattened and indurated, nor hooked Floral Diagram of Annonaceae Floral Formula of Annonaceae

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