The Didymocarpoideae are a subfamily of plants in the family

Gesneriaceae Gesneriaceae, the gesneriad family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 152 genera and ca. 3,540 species in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World (almost all Didymocarpoideae) and the New World (most Gesnerioideae), with ...

. It was formerly the subfamily Cyrtandroideae. This subfamily consists mostly of

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

and

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Geographical z ...

Old World genera, found in Africa, Asia and the Pacific. One species (''

Rhynchoglossum azureum ''Rhynchoglossum'' is a genus of plant in family Gesneriaceae. In recent times, members of the former genus ''Klugia'' are also included. Species within the broader genus are found in India, southern China to New Guinea and about three species in ...

'') is native to Central and South America.

Description

Didymocarpoideae is one of two main subfamilies in the Gesneriaceae, the other being

Gesnerioideae The Gesnerioideae are a subfamily of plants in the family Gesneriaceae: based on the type genus ''Gesneria''. Although genera typically originate in the New World, some species have become widely distributed as ornamental plants. Description Ges ...

. (The third subfamily, Sanangoideae, contains only the genus ''

Sanango ''Sanango'' is a genus of flowering plants containing a single species, ''Sanango racemosum''. The genus was originally placed in family Loganiaceae but has since been variously placed in Scrophulariaceae, Gesneriaceae and Buddlejaceae. As of 201 ...

''.) Didymocarpoideae seedlings usually have

cotyledon A cotyledon (; ; ; , gen. (), ) is a significant part of the embryo within the seed of a plant, and is defined as "the embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants, one or more of which are the first to appear from a germinating seed." The numb ...

s which become different in size and shape (anisocotylous). One cotyledon ceases to grow at some point and then withers away. The other continues to grow, and in extreme cases may grow to become very large and be the only leaf on the plant (''

Monophyllaea ''Monophyllaea'' is a genus of plants in the family Gesneriaceae. It contains the following species (but this list may be incomplete): * ''Monophyllaea albicalyx'' (A. Weber) * ''Monophyllaea andersonii'' (B.L.Burtt) * ''Monophyllaea anthocrena' ...

'', some ''

Streptocarpus ''Streptocarpus'' ("twisted fruit" from Greek στρεπτός (''streptos'') "twisted" and καρπός (''carpos'') "fruit") is an Afrotropical genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The genus is native to Afromontane biotopes ...

''). Didymocarpoideae flowers usually have two fertile

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s, less often four and rarely one or five. The

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

is always superior. The fruit is usually a dry capsule, although other kinds of fruit, such as a fleshy berry, are also found.

Tribes and genera

A classification published in 2020 divides the subfamily into two tribes. * Tribe Epithemateae * ''

Epithema ''Epithema''von Blume CL (1826) ''Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind.'' 14: 737. is a genus of plants in the family Gesneriaceae and subfamily Didymocarpoideae. Species distribution records are mostly from western tropical Africa to Uganda, tropical and subtr ...

'' * '' Gyrogyne'' * ''

Loxonia ''Loxonia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is Peninsula Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia ( ms, Semenanjung Malaysia; Jawi: سمننجڠ مليسيا), or the States of Malaya ( ms, Negeri ...

'' * ''

Rhynchoglossum ''Rhynchoglossum'' is a genus of plant in family Gesneriaceae. In recent times, members of the former genus ''Klugia'' are also included. Species within the broader genus are found in India, southern China to New Guinea and about three species in ...

'' * ''

Stauranthera ''Stauranthera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae Gesneriaceae, the gesneriad family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 152 genera and ca. 3,540 species in the tropics and subtropics of the Old Wor ...

'' * ''

Whytockia ''Whytockia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is southern China and Taiwan. Known species As accepted by Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database ...

'' * Tribe Trichosporeae * ''

Aeschynanthus ''Aeschynanthus'' is a genus of about 150 species of evergreen subtropical and tropical plants in the family Gesneriaceae. They are usually trailing epiphytes with brightly colored flowers that are pollinated by sunbirds. The genus name comes fro ...

'' * ''

Agalmyla ''Agalmyla'' is a genus of plants in the family Gesneriaceae. Species , Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ...

'' * '' Allocheilos'' * ''

Allostigma ''Allostigma'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae Gesneriaceae, the gesneriad family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 152 genera and ca. 3,540 species in the tropics and subtropics of the ...

'' * ''

Anna Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century) * Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 1221) ...

'' * '' Beccarinda'' * ''

Billolivia ''Billolivia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae Gesneriaceae, the gesneriad family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 152 genera and ca. 3,540 species in the tropics and subtropics of the ...

'' * ''

Boea ''Boea'' is a genus of plants in the family Gesneriaceae, with species originating from Australia, China, India, Malaysia, Birma, Philippines, Polynesia, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, Vietnam an ...

'' * ''

Boeica ''Boeica'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is Tropical Asia Tropical Asia refers to the entirety of the areas in Asia with a tropical climate. These areas are of geographic and economic im ...

'' * ''

Briggsiopsis ''Briggsiopsis'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. It contains only one known species, Briggsiopsis delavayi Its native range is southern central China. The genus is named in honour of Munro Briggs S ...

'' * ''

Cathayanthe ''Cathayanthe'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is Hainan Hainan (, ; ) is the smallest and southernmost province of the People's Republic of China (PRC), consisting of various island ...

'' * ''

Championia ''Championia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae Gesneriaceae, the gesneriad family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 152 genera and ca. 3,540 species in the tropics and subtropics of the ...

'' * ''

Chayamaritia ''Chayamaritia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is Indo-China Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asi ...

'' * ''

Codonoboea ''Codonoboea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. Many of its species were formerly placed in the genus ''Henckelia ''Henckelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. Many of its species were forme ...

'' * '' Conandron'' * ''

Corallodiscus ''Corallodiscus'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae Gesneriaceae, the gesneriad family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 152 genera and ca. 3,540 species in the tropics and subtropics of ...

'' * '' Cyrtandra'' * ''

Damrongia ''Damrongia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Gesneriad family, centered in Thailand and found in southern China, Southeast Asia, and Sumatra. Species were reassigned to it in 2016 in a revision of Loxocarpinae. Species Currently accepted ...

'' * ''

Deinostigma ''Deinostigma'' is a genus in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Vietnam and Southern China. In 2016 the genus was expanded with the transfer of several species that had previously been place in the genus ''Primulina ''Primulina'' is a genus o ...

'' * '' Didissandra'' * ''

Didymocarpus ''Didymocarpus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae and typical of the tribe Didymocarpeae. There are about 100 known species distributed in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, southern China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, ...

'' * '' Didymostigma'' * ''

Dorcoceras ''Dorcoceras'' is a genus of flowering plants in the African violet family Gesneriaceae, native to Assam, Southeast Asia, China and central Malesia. Its species were transferred from the genus ''Boea'' in 2016. ''D. hygrometrica'' is considered ...

'' * '' Emarhendia'' * ''

Glabrella ''Glabrella'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae Gesneriaceae, the gesneriad family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 152 genera and ca. 3,540 species in the tropics and subtropics of the ...

'' * ''

Gyrocheilos ''Gyrocheilos'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is Southern China (Guangxi, Guangdong, SE Guizhou). Species: *'' Gyrocheilos chorisepalus'' *'' Gyrocheilos lasiocalyx'' *'' Gyrocheilos m ...

'' * ''

Haberlea ''Haberlea'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The only member of this genus, ''Haberlea rhodopensis'', is endemic to parts of Bulgaria and a small part of northern Greece, especially in the Rhodope Mountains. C ...

'' * '' Hemiboea'' * ''

Henckelia ''Henckelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. Many of its species were formerly placed in '' Didymocarpus'' sect. ''Orthoboea'' and in the genus ''Chirita ''Chirita'' was a formerly recognised genus of plants in th ...

'' * '' Hexatheca'' * '' Jerdonia'' * ''

Kaisupeea ''Kaisupeea'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is Indo-China. It is found in Myanmar and Thailand. The genus name of ''Kaisupeea'' is in honour of Supee Saksuwan Larsen (b. 1939) and her husb ...

'' * '' Leptoboea'' * '' Liebigia'' * ''

Litostigma ''Litostigma'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae Gesneriaceae, the gesneriad family, is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 152 genera and ca. 3,540 species in the tropics and subtropics of the ...

'' * ''

Loxocarpus ''Loxocarpus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. Many of its species were formerly placed in the genus ''Henckelia ''Henckelia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. Many of its species were forme ...

'' * ''

Loxostigma ''Loxostigma'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is Himalaya to Southern China and Indo-China Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the contine ...

'' * '' Lysionotus'' * '' Metapetrocosmea'' * ''

Microchirita ''Microchirita'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, subfamily Didymocarpoideae The Didymocarpoideae are a subfamily of plants in the family Gesneriaceae. It was formerly the subfamily Cyrtandroideae. This subfamily co ...

'' * '' Middletonia'' * '' Orchadocarpa'' * '' Oreocharis'' * '' Ornithoboea'' * '' Paraboea'' * ''

Petrocodon ''Petrocodon'' is a diverse genus of the family Gesneriaceae found in Southern China. ''Petrocodon'' formerly had few species, but recent genetic analysis has refined our understanding of the genus. ''Calcareoboea, Paralagarosolen, Dolicholoma'' ...

'' * '' Petrocosmea'' * '' Platystemma'' * ''

Primulina ''Primulina'' is a genus of flowering plants in the African violet family Gesneriaceae. In 2011 the genus was expanded with the transfer of many species that had previously been placed in the genus ''Chirita ''Chirita'' was a formerly recogn ...

'' * '' Pseudochirita'' * '' Rachunia'' * '' Ramonda'', including ''Jankaea'' * ''

Raphiocarpus ''Raphiocarpus'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is Southern China to Vietnam. Species: *''Raphiocarpus annamensis'' *''Raphiocarpus asper'' *''Raphiocarpus aureus'' *''Raphiocarpus bego ...

'' * '' Rhabdothamnopsis'' * '' Rhynchotechum'' * ''

Ridleyandra ''Ridleyandra'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. Its native range is Thailand to western Malesia. It is found in Borneo, Malaya and Thailand. The genus name of ''Ridleyandra'' is in honour of Henry Nicholas Ri ...

'' * '' Senyumia'' * '' Sepikea'' * '' Somrania'' * '' Spelaeanthus'' * ''

'', including ''Saintpaulia'' * ''

Tetraphyllum ''Tetraphyllum'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. , there was no consensus as to whether the correct scientific name for the genus is ''Tetraphyllum'' or ''Tetraphylloides'', some sources using the former and s ...

'' (syn. ''Tetraphylloides'') * ''

Tribounia ''Tribounia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Gesneriaceae. It is native to Thailand. Known species, according to Kew: * '' Tribounia grandiflora'' D.J.Middleton * '' Tribounia venosa'' (Barnett) D.J.Middleton The genus ...

'' File:Aeschynanthus.jpg, ''

Aeschynanthus speciosus ''Aeschynanthus speciosus'', also known as the basket plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. There are many species of ''Aeschynanthus'', all of which have long, trailing stems and bright flowers. The large, fleshy, da ...

'' File:Cyrtandra cyaneoides (5490666621).jpg, ''

Cyrtandra cyaneoides ''Cyrtandra cyaneoides'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the Gesneriaceae, African violet family known by the common name māpele. It is Endemism, endemic to Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi, where it is known from eleven populations containing a tota ...

'' File:Damrongia-orientalis Roberts.jpg, ''

Damrongia orientalis ''Damrongia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Gesneriad family, centered in Thailand and found in southern China, Southeast Asia, and Sumatra. Species were reassigned to it in 2016 in a revision of Loxocarpinae. Species Currently accepted ...

'' File:Haberlea rhodopensis.jpg, ''

Haberlea rhodopensis ''Haberlea'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. The only member of this genus, ''Haberlea rhodopensis'', is endemic to parts of Bulgaria and a small part of northern Greece, especially in the Rhodope Mountains. C ...

'' File:Microchirita lavandulacea (Chirita lavandulacea) - Botanischer Garten, Dresden, Germany - DSC08590.JPG, '' Microchirita lavandulacea'' File:Monophyllaea glauca.jpg, '' Monophyllaea glauca'' – each leaf is one separate plant File:Petrocosmea rosettifolia.JPG, ''

Petrocosmea rosettifolia ''Petrocosmea rosettifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae. A new species ''Petrocosmea cryptica'' J.M.H.Shaw was described in 2011, long known in cultivation but mistakenly identified as ''P. rosettifolia''. Descrip ...

'' File:RAMONDA MYCONI - LA CORRIU - IB-467 (Orella d'ós).JPG, ''

Ramonda myconi ''Ramonda myconi'', the Pyrenean-violet or rosette mullein, syn. ''R. pyrenaica'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Gesneriaceae, which is a relictual endemite of shady, rocky places in the Pyrenees and north eastern Spain. It is a ...

'' File:KlugiaWynaad.jpg, ''

Rhynchoglossum notonianum ''Rhynchoglossum'' is a genus of plant in family Gesneriaceae. In recent times, members of the former genus ''Klugia'' are also included. Species within the broader genus are found in India, southern China to New Guinea and about three species in ...

'' File:Streptocarpus saxorum in bloom.jpg, ''

Streptocarpus saxorum ''Streptocarpus saxorum'', called the false African violet, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Streptocarpus'', subgenus ''Streptocarpella'', native to Kenya and Tanzania. It is an evergreen perennial that often bears flowers nearly y ...

Distribution

The species of the subfamily Didymocarpoideae are native to Europe, Africa, Asia,

Malesia Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the Equator and the boundaries of the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, and also a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical Kingdom. It has been given different definitions. The ...

, the Pacific and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, except for a single species, ''

'', which is native to the Neotropics (Central and South America).

References

External links

* * {{taxonbar, from1=Q21234240, from2=Q5795565 Didymocarpoideae Plant subfamilies