Re: Paullina sp.? (help?)
Deborah Lindsay wrote:
>
> Interesting parallel Charles. I suspect it is another example of the Gondwana
> theory at work again... But why only one sp
> of each in Western Africa and not more???
>
> Deborah Lindsay
> Oakland, California
> mild wet winters, mild dry summers
>
> ____________________Reply Separator____________________
> Subject: Re: Paullina sp.? (help?)
> Author: cdills@fix.net
> Date: 12/1/99 5:00 PM
>
> >Quoting from an old book: "The Treasury of Botany" 1876 [abridged]
>
> >With the exception of 1 West African sp, the whole of this large genus
> >of Sapindaceae, about 80 species, comes from the tropical regions of
> >the Western hemisphere.. Nearly all are climbing shrubs with tendrils,
> >divided compound leaves and racemes of white flowers with two opposite
> >tendrils below them
> +++++-------------
> What's going on here?
>
> I collect bromeliads. There are around 3000 known species.
> ALL BUT ONE OF THEM IS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THE LONE EXCEPTION
> OCCURS IN WEST AFRICA.
This is paralled by Cactaceae - all genera except Rhipsalis are Western
Hemisphere plants. However my best available authority the Oxford
Flowering Plants of the World, describes Rhipsalis in Africa as
"doubtfully native or early naturalized".
Mind you, I can't really imagine why anybody interested in cacti should
have picked just Rhipsalis to transport from America to Africa, as it is
a pretty dull and unexciting plant with distinctly undistinguished
white flowers!!!
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand. (on the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
Lat. 41:16S Long. 174:58E. Climate: Mediterranean/Temperate
