Aextoxicaceae

plant family

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July 15, 2026

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Aextoxicaceae is a small family of woody evergreen dicotyledonous plants, consisting of a single genus with one species, Aextoxicum punctatum. This rare evergreen tree is native to Chile. The plant is characterized by scales and leaves that are more or less opposite. Its flowers are inconspicuous but distinctive, with male and female flowers growing on separate plants. The fruit is dry and contains a single seed with a large embryo. Aextoxicaceae is part of the order Berberidopsidales, which is a basal order among the core eudicots.1

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Berberidopsidales
…of two families (Berberidopsidaceae and Aextoxicaceae) containing a total of four species, found only in Chile and Australia. It is one of the basal orders among the core eudicots (a major clade, or plants with a common genetic lineage).
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…of two families (Berberidopsidaceae and Aextoxicaceae) containing a total of four species, found only in Chile and Australia. It is one of the basal orders among the core eudicots (a major clade, or plants with a common genetic lineage).
Read More