Picramniaceae is a small, mainly neotropical family of four genera Aenigmanu, Alvaradoa, Nothotalisia[3] and Picramnia. The family is the only member of the orderPicramniales. Members of the family were formerly placed in the family Simaroubaceae or misidentified as species in the family Sapindaceae, in the order Sapindales. The most recent standard classification of the Angiosperms (the APG III system)[1] distinguishes it as a separate family and order. It belongs to the malvids (eurosids II), one of the three groups that constitute the rosids.
AenigmanuW.W.Thomas – 1 species, Peru and northwestern Brazil
AlvaradoaLiebm. – 6 species, Mexico and Florida to central South America
NothotalisiaW.W.Thomas – 3 species, Panama to Bolivia and northern Brazil
PicramniaSw. – 44 species, Mexico and Florida to northeastern Argentina
In 2021, a new genus was identified from materials collected almost 50 years prior. It was discovered by Robert Foster in 1973, but no scientist was able to identify it.[4] It is named Aenigmanu for the enigma it originally presented to researchers.[5]
Characteristics
The occurrence of tariric acid as the major fatty acid is typical for the Picramniaceae.[6]
