ARALIACEAE - ARALIA FAMILY
Scientific Description:
Woody climbers (in Türkiye) with numerous adventitious roots. Leaves alternate, evergreen, simple, exstipulate. Flowers small, in globose umbels which are solitary or arranged in racemose panicles, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic. Calyx small or rudimentary. Petals 5, free. Stamens 5, alternating with the petals. Disc (in Türkiye) conspicuous, domed, secreting nectar. Ovary 5-locular, inferior; ovules anatropous, pendulous from apex. Fruit a berry.
Reference:
Davis PH (1972). Araliaceae, In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 4: 538.
Public Description:
“Aralia family” or “ivy family” contains trees, shrubs, lianas and perennial herbaceous flowering plants. They are widespread, but especially sub-tropical to tropical regions. Species usually bear pinnately or palmately compound leaves, and have small flowers produced in large panicles. Hedera helix L., widely used as ornamental plant, and Panax L. species, which are very popular in medical purposes, are important members of this family. Also a member of this family, “The rice-paper plant (Tetrapanax papyrifer (Hook.) K.Koch)” is the source of rice paper. The central tissues of the stem are split and pressed into thin sheets used for surgical dressings and as watercolour paper.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2015). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araliaceae/, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
Anonymous 2 (2015). http://www.britannica.com/plant/Araliaceae/, Accessed date: 22.12.2015.
