Canellaceae [SEP] parent taxon
Canellaceae
The Canellaceae are a family of flowering plants in the order Canellales. The order includes only one other family, the Winteraceae. Canellaceae is native to the Afrotropic and Neotropic ecozones. They are small to medium trees, rarely shrubs, evergreen and aromatic. The flowers and fruit are often red.
Several species of Canellaceae are important in herbal medicine or as a substitute for cinnamon. "Canella winterana" is the only species known in cultivation.
The family is divided into five genera, but studies of DNA
Drimane
Drimane is a bicyclic sesquiterpene. It is the parent structure of many natural products with various biological activity.
Among the notable drimanes are:
- Polygodial, found in several different plants
- Multiple compounds found in several members of the Canellaceae family