Neither Oak Nor Alder, But Nearly: The History of Ticodendraceae

The newly described monotypic family Ticodendraceae is endemic to Mesoamerica, where it ranges from southern Mexico to central Panama.Although locally comm on in some areas very close to old collecting sites (at least in Costa Rica), few collections from prior to 1085 are known.Recent funds for exploration and concentration on the arborescent flora may account for the "rediscovery" of Ticodendron during the 1980s.It may also have been overlooked by botanists because it looks so familiar, like an oak or an alder.Most evidence suggests that it can be placed comfortably ' Supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant BSR-8700068.ng all of the critical material for nama