Rhoipteleaceae

Rhoipteleaceae is a family of dicotyledonous plants comprising a single species Rhoiptelea sinensis, with a single genus Rhoiptelea. It is native to southwestern China and northern Vietnam where it lives at elevations of 700-1600 masl in mountainous areas.

Description

Trees that reach 17 meters in height and a trunk of 40 cm in diameter, are pollinated by the wind and the flowers are produced in panicles that reach 32 cm in length resembling a "tail of horse". Its fruit is a small nut with rounded wings. Its leaves are pinnate.

Taxonomy

Rhoiptelea sinensis was described by Diels & Hand.-Mazz. and published in Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 30(791–798): 77–79, pl. 127 & 128, in the year 1932.