Simaroubaceae
Family of plants
title: "Simaroubaceae" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["simaroubaceae", "sapindales-families"] description: "Family of plants" topic_path: "general/simaroubaceae" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simaroubaceae" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Family of plants ::
| image = Ailanthus altissima2.jpg | image_caption = Ailanthus altissima | taxon = Simaroubaceae | authority = DC. | subdivision_ranks = Genera | subdivision = See text | synonyms =
- Ailanthaceae J.Agardh
- Castelaceae J.Agardh
- Holacanthaceae Jadin, nom. inval.
- Leitneriaceae Benth. & Hook.f., nom. cons.
- Simabaceae Horan.
- Soulameaceae Endl. | range_map = Simaroubaceae distribution.svg | range_map_caption = Distribution of the family Simaroubaceae.
The Simaroubaceae, also known as the quassia family, are a small, mostly tropical, family in the order Sapindales. In recent decades, it has been subject to much taxonomic debate, with several small families being split off. A molecular phylogeny of the family was published in 2007, greatly clarifying relationships within the family. Together with chemical characteristics such as the occurrence of petroselinic acid in Picrasma, in contrast to other members of the family such as Ailanthus, this indicates the existence of a subgroup in the family with Picrasma, Holacantha, and Castela.
The best-known species is the temperate Chinese tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima, which has become a cosmopolitan weed tree of urban areas and wildlands.
Well-known genera in the family include the tropical Quassia and Simarouba.
It is known in English by the common names of the quassia family or ailanthus family.
Genera
21 genera are accepted:
- Ailanthus Desf.
- †Ailanthophyllum Dawson
- Brucea J.F.Mill.
- Castela Turpin
- Eurycoma Jack
- Gymnostemon Aubrév. & Pellegr.
- Hannoa Planch.
- Homalolepis Turcz.
- Iridosma Aubrév. & Pellegr.
- Leitneria Chapm.
- Nothospondias Engl.
- Odyendea Pierre ex Engl.
- Perriera Courchet
- Picrasma Blume
- Picrolemma Hook.f.
- Pierreodendron Engl.
- Quassia L.
- Samadera Gaertn.
- Simaba Aubl.
- Simarouba Aubl.
- Soulamea Lam.
Excluded genera
- Allantospermum Forman → Irvingiaceae
- Alvaradoa Liebm. → Picramniaceae
- Desbordesia Pierre ex Tiegh. → Irvingiaceae
- Harrisonia R.Br. ex A.Juss. → Rutaceae
- Irvingia Hook.f. → Irvingiaceae
- Kirkia Oliv. → Kirkiaceae
- Klainedoxa Pierre ex Engl. → Irvingiaceae
- Picramnia Sw. → Picramniaceae
- Recchia Sessé & Moc. ex DC. → Surianaceae
References
References
- (2003-01-17). "Family: ''Simaroubaceae'' DC., nom. cons.". United States Department of Agriculture.
- Clayton, Joshua W.. (2007). "Molecular phylogeny of the tree-of-heaven family (Simaroubaceae) based on chloroplast and nuclear markers". International Journal of Plant Sciences.
- Tsujimoto, M.. (May 1933). "On Nikagi Oil". Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn..
- T. Stuhlfauth. (1985). "The distribution of fatty acids including petroselinic and tariric acids in the fruit and seed oils of the Pittosporaceae, Araliaceae, Umbelliferae, Simarubaceae and Rutaceae". Biochemical Systematics and Ecology.
- Elizabeth Pan. (March 1986). "Establishment and Distribution of ''Ailanthus altissima'' in the Urban Environment". J. Environ. Hort..
- (2000). "Invasion of an Old-Growth Forest in New York by Ailanthus altissima: Sapling Growth and Recruitment in Canopy Gaps". Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society.
- (1986). "Trees of Norh America : A Guide to Field Identification". Golden Press.
- "Simaroubaceae DC".
- "GRIN Genera of ''Simaroubaceae''". United States Department of Agriculture.
- "GRIN genera sometimes placed in ''Simaroubaceae''". United States Department of Agriculture.
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