Anatomical contributions to plant taxonomy II. The affinities of Hua Pierre and Afrostyrax Perkins et Gilg

Vegetative anatomy, fruit and seed structure, and pollen morphology of Hua and Afrostyrax (tropical West and Central Africa) are described in detail. The two genera have many anatomical characters in common (see anatomical family diagnosis on p. 182) but are sufficiently different from other families to justify the existence of the family Huaceae. Some characteristic features are discussed and the results of comparisons with representatives of about 50 families are reported. Afrostyrax is not related to Styracaceae, nor is Hua to Erythroxylaceae as had been suggested in the past. Sterculiaceae and Bombacaceae appear to have the highest number of characters in common with Huaceae of all the families compared. This supports the inclusion of Huaceae in the Malvales as advocated previously by several authors. Some original observations on the anatomy of a few of the families compared are included in the comparative part.