Eupomatia is a genus of three floweringshrub species known to science, of the Australian continent ancient familyEupomatiaceae. The Eupomatiaceae have been recognised by most taxonomists and classified in the plant order Magnoliales. The three species of shrubs or small trees grow naturally in the rainforests and humid eucalypt forests of eastern Australia and New Guinea. The type speciesEupomatia laurina was described in 1814 by Robert Brown.
Leavesdistichous, simple, entire, penninerved, brochidodromous, petiolate, without stipules with secretory, aromatic idioblasts, stomata paracytic or actinocytic, only on the undersides of leaves
Stems with nodes 7-lacunar, radii uni- or multicellular, medulla not septate
Flowers perfect, cream or red and yellow, 30–40 mm in diameter, actinomorphic, spiral, epigynous, solitary, axillary or terminal, sometimes in fascicles of 2-3, with 1-2 fused bracts forming a calyptraReceptacle urceolate. Sepals and petals absent; stamens 20-100, tetrasporangiate, petaloids, gynostemium short, wide, anthers basifixed, introrse, longitudinally dehiscent, connectivum elongated; staminodes intrastaminal 40-80, petaloid, with glands in the blade and at the edge; stamens and staminodes basally fused forming a deciduous synandrium; carpels 13-70, syncarpous, fused for more than half of their length, forming a flattened apical structure; styles absent, stigmas flat, papillose; ovules 2-11 per carpel, anatropous, apotropous, bitegmic, crassinucellate; placentation sublaminar, in two rows along the ventral side of the carpel.
and autocompatible flowers, with a reduction in selfing through herkogamy, diurnal synchronization of anthesis and the tendency of the same plant to not flower on two consecutive days. Anthesis lasts one or two days, at the height the flower behaves functionally as a female, showing its gynoecium and with open staminodes, while the stamens remain below the flower. The flower later behaves as a male with the intrastaminal staminodes folded inwards hiding the gynoecium and with erect stamens. The staminodes secrete an oily exudate and emit a fruity smell that attracts beetles, particularly of the genusElleschodes, that visit the flowers in both phases, in addition the synandria fall to the ground. The fruit is sweet and aromatic and it is dispersed by birds and mammals. The fruit is also eaten by humans. The species are native to the tropical habitats of the rain forest, from sea level to an altitude of 1,300 m.
Phytochemistry
Plants contain unusual lignans and alkaloids such as proanthocyanidins, cyanidin and flavonoids, in particular velutin. Iridoids, flavonols and ellagic acid are absent. Cyanogenesis absent.
Uses
The colourfulwood of E. laurina is valued as is its fruit, which is used to make traditional Australian drinks, preserves and pastries.
Systematic position
Eupomatiaceae associates specifically with the family Annonaceae in the order Magnoliales from their botanical descriptions. The Angiosperm Phylogeny Website considers Eupomatiaceae a sister group of the family Annonaceae in the terminal clade in the order’s evolution. The APG II system, of 2003, also recognizes this family, and assigns it to the order Magnoliales in the clade magnoliids.
