Common Name and Type Genus: Soapberry family, derived from the Sapindus genus
Distribution: Worldwide in a wide variety of climates
Family Size: About 140 genera and 1800 species
Notable Genera: The two primary genera that are of interest to woodworkers in North America are Acer and Aesculus—yielding maple and buckeye wood, respectively.
Comments: The soapberry family yields a number of fruit-bearing trees that are more common in tropical climates, such as lychee (Litchi chinensis), rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), and longan (Dimocarpus longan). The connection between these tropical species and those of the aforementioned temperate genera may seem unusual, and indeed both Acer and Aesculus were formerly both placed in their own families—Aceraceae and Hippocastanaceae, respectively. But more recent genetic testing has verified their connection, concluding “Support for a broadly defined Sapindaceae incorporating Aceraceae, Hippocastanaceae, and Xanthoceras is very robust.”[1]Harrington, M. G., Edwards, K. J., Johnson, S. A., Chase, M. W., & Gadek, P. A. (2005). Phylogenetic inference in Sapindaceae sensu lato using plastid matK and rbcL DNA sequences. Systematic … Continue reading
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See single listing for species Alectryon oleifolius
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References
| ↑1 | Harrington, M. G., Edwards, K. J., Johnson, S. A., Chase, M. W., & Gadek, P. A. (2005). Phylogenetic inference in Sapindaceae sensu lato using plastid matK and rbcL DNA sequences. Systematic Botany, 30(2), 366-382. |
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