Anacampserotaceae
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| Anacampserotaceae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Anacampseros rufescens flower | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Anacampserotaceae Eggli & Nyffeler |
| Type genus | |
| Anacampseros | |
| Genera | |
The Anacampserotaceae is a family of succulent plants under the Portulacineae subgroup.[1][2] Species can be found in South African regions.[3] The family was described by Urs Eggli and Reto Nyffeler in their analysis of the polyphyly in the suborder Portulacineae (order Caryophyllales).[1] Genetic research led to the discovery of the ACPT clade where the Anacampserotaceae family is placed.[1][4][5] Species can interchangeably switch photosynthetic pathways based on environmental water stress.[6] The three recognized genera - Anacampseros, Grahamia, and Talinopsis - were formerly placed in the Portulacaceae.[7][8] This family was accepted in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group's 2009 publication of the APG III system.[9]
The Anacampserotaceae family is within the suborder Portulacineae.[4] A shared trait within the family is succulent leaves and seed production.[2] Flowers are generally bisexual with a superior ovary, a perianth in 2 whorls of 2 sepals and 5 petals.[2] Species within the family have shown positive resiliency to drought environmental factors.[10]
Taxon history
Accepted in the APG III system, the Anacampserotaceae family placement in the taxon was further researched due to conflicting relationships with other families under the Portulacineae.[11][1] Using genetic markers Nyffeler and Eggli conducted research on the subgroup Portulacineae and found positive support for a clade within the subgroup comprising of Anacampserotaceae, Cactaceae, Portulacaceae, and Talinaceae.[1] The clade was then formally known as the ACPT clade, as referred by many studies thereafter.[4][5] A study conducted by Maria Oliveira Marinho et al. The study researched specifically the ACPT clade using chromosomal data.[4] The study resulted with further positive support for the ACPT clade existence.[4] Information was discovered in regard to the order within the ACPT clade, the results showed that Talinaceae was the first family to diverge from the group, and Cactaceae is sister to both Anacampserotaceae and Portulacaceae which form a monophyletic group together.[4] The Anacampserotaceae has three genera in the family named Grahamia, Anacampseros, and Talinopsis.[1]
Morphology
Succulent leaves can take many forms, in Anacampserotaceae there are species ranging from cylindrical like in Avonia to ovate leaves seen in Anacampseros rufescens.[12][13] The cylindrical leaves can also have distinct differences such as scales, which can differ between species. [3] The succulent leaves also can contain anthocyanin which can create a different pigmentation around or different parts of the succulent leaves.[10] Species within the Anacampserotaceae family are seed producing.[2][3] The endocarps valves form a basket like capsule that holds the produced angular shape seeds. [2][14][1]
