Eupomatia

The Eupomatiaceae (Magnoliales), another family quite isolated taxonomically from others, contains two species of Eupomatia, both of which occur in eastern Australia and one of which is also in New Guinea. Eupomatia species are pollinated by a single genus of beetles (Elleschodes); if the beetles become…

In Eupomatia (Magnoliales), for example, the young flower bud is covered by a floral leaf (bract) that drops off at the time of flowering, exposing a naked flower (with stamens and carpels). Although the flower appears to have petals, it is actually a false, or pseudo-,…