| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Basal Angiosperm-Dicots
Order: Laurales
Family: Lauraceae
Family Common Name: Laurel Family
Genera: Lindera, Sassafras |
Defining Features: Anthers
open from base upward by flaps of tissue. Plants in this family are highly
aromatic.
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Flowers are often yellow or greenish, small, actinomorphic, bisexual
or unisexual. Inflorescence as cymes, heads, panicles, racemes or spikes.
Androecium with filaments is sometimes adnate to perianth forming a hypanthium.
Ovaries are often superior with apical placentation. Fruit and Seed Features:
Dicotyledon. Fruit a berry or mostly a drupe. Seed has large, oily embryo.
Endosperm is lacking. Vegetative Features: Habit is as shrubs or trees
and rarely a parasitic vine. Leaves are deciduous or sometimes evergreen,
simple and often alternate. Leaf margins are entire or lobed. Stipules
are lacking.
Distribution: Widespread in
subtropical and tropical regions, especially in Brazil and SE Asia.
Economic Use: As the source
of cinnamon, sassafras, camphor, avocado and laurel. Timber and garden
ornamentals.
Number of Genera Globally: 55
Number of Species Globally:
2,500
