Blandfordiaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Blandfordiaceae R. Dahlgren & Clifford

Synonym(s): [none]

Common name(s): Christmas bells family

*Number of genera/species: 1/4

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

seed

Description

Fruit a septicidalsepticidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally by separating between the septa of adjacent carpels
winged capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
, 55–90 mm long, fusiformfusiform:
spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends
to trigonoustrigonous:
3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
to triangulartriangular:
2D shape—three relatively straight sides with distinct corners; more angular than teardrop-shaped
in transection, stylestyle:
in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit
persistent, many seeded. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
brown, chartaceouschartaceous:
papery, papyraceous
.

Seeds linearlinear:
(shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
to oblongoblong:
2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded
, polygonalpolygonal:
angular
or falcatefalcate:
shaped like a scythe or sickle
, 5–6 mm long. Seed coat brown, papillatepapillate:
surface relief—bearing minute, distinct, broad-based projections, tapering to a rounded apex
, and densely covered with colorless hairs (appearing felted).

Embryo linearlinear:
(shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide
, curvedcurved:
(of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart
or straight, about 1/2 the length of the seed.

Endosperm copious, starchless.

Identification features

Fruit
Type	septicidalsepticidal: type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally by separating between the septa of adjacent carpels capsulecapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary
Size range	55–60 mm long
Shape(s)	fusiformfusiform: spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends , trigonoustrigonous: 3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline
Texture	chartaceouschartaceous: papery, papyraceous
Color(s)	brown
Unique features	Paperypapery: texture—papyraceous, chartaceous; very thin, pliable, and readily torn; like paper , winged, fusiformfusiform: spindle-shaped; broadest at the middle and tapering at both ends to trigonoustrigonous: 3D shape—having three faces that meet at distinct angles; triangular in outline capsulescapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit derived from a compound ovary with persistent stylesstyle: in a flower, the narrow and elongated part of the pistil between the stigma and the ovary; sometimes persisting in fruit .
Seed
Size range	5–6 mm long
Shape(s)	ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , linearlinear: (shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide , oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , falcatefalcate: shaped like a scythe or sickle , polygonalpolygonal: angular
Surface relief	papillatepapillate: surface relief—bearing minute, distinct, broad-based projections, tapering to a rounded apex ; densely covered with colorless hairs
Color(s)	brown
Unique features	Brown seeds densely covered with colorless hairs.
Other
Embryo	linearlinear: (shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide , curvedcurved: (of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart or straight, about 1/2 the length of the seed
Nutritive tissue	endosperm copious, starchless

Distribution

Eastern Australia.

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Baskin and Baskin 2021Baskin and Baskin 2021:
Baskin C and Baskin J. 2021. Relationship of the lateral embryo (in grasses) to other monocot embryos: A status up-grade. Seed Science Research 31 (3): 199-210. doi:10.1017/S0960258521000209; Dahlgren et al. 1985Dahlgren et al. 1985:
Dahlgren RMT, Clifford HT, and Yeo PF. 1985. The families of the monocotyledons: structure, evolution, and taxonomy. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 520 pp.; Kirkbride et al. 2006Kirkbride et al. 2006:
Kirkbride JH, Jr, Gunn CR, and Dallwitz MJ. 2006. Family guide for fruits and seeds, vers. 1.0. Accessed September 2020-January 2022. URL: https://nt.ars-grin.gov/seedsfruits/keys/frsdfam/index.cfm .; Kubitzki et al. 1990+Kubitzki et al. 1990+:
Kubitzki K et al., eds. 1990+. The families and genera of vascular plants. 7+ vols. Berlin etc.; PlantNET 2021+PlantNET 2021+:
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). 2021+. Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Accessed January 2021–March 2024. URL: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au; Stevenson and Loconte 1995Stevenson and Loconte 1995:
Stevenson DW and Loconte H. 1995. A cladistic analysis of monocot families. In: Rudall PJ, Cribb PJ, Cutler DF, and Humphries CJ, eds. Monocotyledons: Systematics and Evolution. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.; Takhtajan 2009Takhtajan 2009:
Takhtajan A. 2009. Flowering plants: Second edition. Springer Nature, Switzerland. 871 pp.; Watson and Dallwitz 1992+Watson and Dallwitz 1992+:
Watson L and Dallwitz MJ. 1992+. The families of flowering plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 6th Accessed September 2020-September 2022. URL: delta-intkey.com

*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016Christenhusz and Byng 2016:
Christenhusz MJM and Byng JW. 2016. The number of known plant species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa 261 (3): 201-217. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.