Schisandraceae

Schisandraceae, family of three genera and some 90 species of flowering plants of the primitive order Austrobaileyales. The family consists of mostly tropical and subtropical woody plants. All have radially symmetrical, mainly beetle-pollinated flowers that lack differentiation between the outer and inner floral whorls (sepals and petals). The family is botanically significant in having features showing characteristics of ancient gymnosperm groups, such as wood with primitive vessels (water-conducting cells). Schisandraceae and the former family Illiciaceae...