| Abstract: | This paper is a preliminary study on the Sabiaceae in aspects of its morphology,taxonomy and geography. We propose that the Sabioideae and Meliosmoideae as twonew subfamilies of Sabiaceae according to the external morphology, flower structureand geographical distribution of these two genera respectively. This paper follows the taxonomic concepts of Luetha Chen on Sabia and C. F.van Beusekom on Meliosma. We agree with them for their classification of these twogenera above the specific rank. As to the revision work of Sabia by van de Waterand C. F. van Beusekom’s work on Meliosma we disagree for their unduly broadspecific concepts. We rather treat the species of these two genera according to theirhabitats in regions on a relatively narrower sense. The genus Sabia of China areclassified into 2 tribes, with 16 species, 5 subspecies and 2 varieties in which 4 subspecies and l variety are as new combinations, the genus of Meliosma in China areclassified into 2 subgenera with 29 species, and 7 varieties of which 4 varieties are newcombinations. After examining the affinity of the species of Sabia and Meliosma in China andits neighboring nations such as Burma, Japan and Bhutan, we found that their migration initiated from China, as the primitive species of these two genera occured innortheast and central part of Yunnan, sou theast of Sichuan, north of Guizhou andwest of Hubei, the region may probably be the main origin of these two genera. As shown in tables 1 & 2, the localities where the species of these two genera densely populate they are from Yunnan, Guangxi, and Guangdong coinciding with theconcepts of C. F. van Beusekom and van de Water about the distribution of exoticspecies of these two genera, it may reasonable be pointed out that the center of distribution of these two genera is Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong and nieghboring nations,upper Burma and northern Vietnam. Futhermore, it may be seen that starting fromthis center the number of species become less and less as they proceed far and far awaybut become more advance in evolution. |
