Chemistry and taxonomy of the cunoniaceae

The inclusion of the Cunoniaceae within a rosalean alliance is unquestioned, but its position in such an alliance is uncertain. In respect of proanthocyanidins, flavonols, ellagitannins and absence of iridoids the most closely similar taxa are Saxifragaceae-Saxifragoideae and Rosaceae-Rosoideae, but in their xerophytic, arborescent habit and present and past southern hemisphere distribution the Cunoniaceae are very different from either. In these (but not in chemical) respects an analogy can be found in the Proteaceae, and a detached position similar to that assigned to this family in Dahlgren's system seems appropriate for the Cunoniaceae.