COMMELINID Meaning and
Definition
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Commelinid is a term used in the field of botany to refer to a subgroup or clade within the flowering plants, specifically within the monocots (monocotyledons). The commelinid clade is one of the most diverse and important groups of flowering plants, comprising about 20% of all angiosperms.
Members of the commelinid clade are characterized by several distinctive features. One of the most notable traits is their trimerous flowers, which means their floral organs are arranged in sets of three. The petals, stamens, and sepals of commelinids are usually arranged in multiples of three, as opposed to the more common multiple of four or five found in other monocots.
Another defining characteristic of commelinids is their unique inflorescence structure. Commelinid plants typically bear their flowers in cymose inflorescences, which are branching structures where the main stem ends in a flower, and secondary stems form from the axils of the bracts and end in smaller flowers. This inflorescence arrangement is distinct from that of many other flowering plants.
Furthermore, commelinids often possess specific leaf anatomy, such as the presence of silica bodies or specialized cells known as bundle sheath extensions. These adaptations help commelinid plants to withstand environmental stresses and promote photosynthesis efficiency.
Examples of well-known commelinid plants include grasses, orchids, gingers, bananas, and palms. The commelinid clade plays a crucial role in ecosystems worldwide, providing habitat and sustenance for many organisms, including humans. Understanding the characteristics and diversity of commelinids is essential for botanical research, classification, and conservation efforts.
Etymology of COMMELINID
The etymology of the word "commelinid" can be traced back to the botanist Jan Commelijn (1629-1692) and his brother Casper Commelijn (1668-1731), both from the Netherlands. The Commelijn brothers were prominent botanists of their time and contributed significantly to the study of plants. They played a crucial role in the publication of Horti Medici Amstelodamensis Rariorum Plantarum Historia (The Amsterdam Garden of Medicinal Plants), which featured numerous illustrations and descriptions of plants.
In recognition of their contributions to botany, the French botanist Antoine Laurent de Jussieu named a plant family Commelinaceae in their honor. Later, as plant classification systems evolved, the term "commelinoid" was used to refer to a group of plants that shared certain characteristics with the Commelinaceae family.
