| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Eudicots-Rosids II
Order: Sapindales
Family: Aceraceae + Hippocastanaceae + Sapindaceae
Family Common Name: Soapberry Family
Genera: Acer, Aesculus |
Defining Features:
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Inflorescences are determinate, axillary or terminal. Flowers
are often unisexual, or bisexual, actinomorphic or zygomorphic. Plants
are monoecious, dioecious or polygamous. Ovaries are superior with most
frequently axile placentation. Fruit and Seed Features: Dicotyledon. Fruit
is a capsule, berry or schizocarp with 1-seeded samaras. Seeds have curved
embryo and without endosperm.Vegetative Features: Habit as shrubs, tendril
bearing vines, or trees. Leaves are primarily alternate, pinnate, bipinnate,
trifoliolate or palmate. The base of petiole is swollen. Stipulate or estipulate.
Distribution: Tropical and
subtropical and temperate regions.
Economic Use: As cultivated
garden ornamentals, edible berries, maple sugar and syrup. As the source
of buckeyes and horse chestnuts and used as a timber tree in the southeastern
U.S. Some species produce a lathery soap substitute when immersed and agitated
in water. Others are caffeine rich used to make a strong beverage in Brazil,
called yoco. As the source of "saponin" (Toxin).
Number of Genera Globally: 147
Number of Species Globally: 2215
