Author:
Jan Scholten
Book:
Qjurious
Type:
Info
Chapter:
3-533.00.00
Gnetidae
Name: Gnetophyta; Gnetophytes.
Botany: 3 genera; 70 species; woody plants; gnetophytes differ from other gymnosperms in having vessel elements as found in flowering plants.
Taxonomy
In the Plant theory a Class Gnetidae is made, a Class in the Gymnospermae. Gnetidae is in the Silicon series of the Gymnospermae. Gnetales is the only Order in Gnetidae.
The evolutionary relationships remain unclear: in some classifications, all three genera are placed in one order Gnetales. In other classifications they are distributed among three orders, each with a single family and genus.
Families
Gnetaceae: Gnetum.
Welwitschiaceae: Welwitschia mirabilis.
Ephedraceae: Ephedra.