Ranalian Complex (Noun)
Meaning
A group of families of trees and shrubs and herbs having well-developed perianths and apocarpous ovaries and generally regarded as the most primitive extant flowering plants; contains 36 families including Magnoliaceae and Ranunculaceae; sometimes classified as a superorder.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The magnoliids are often compared to the ranalian complex for their well-developed perianths and apocarpous ovaries.
- The ranalian complex is an evolutionary group consisting of diverse and relatively primitive flowering plants like those found in the Magnoliaceae and the buttercup family.
- Scientists have placed various plants with apocarpous ovaries in the ranalian complex due to similarities in reproductive structures.
- Evolutionary linkages show the association of magnoliids to other ancient flowers in the ranalian complex.
- Botanists identify members of the ranalian complex, including those in Ranunculaceae, through prominent floral characteristics.