Ctenolophonaceae is a family of flowering trees found in Africa. Interestingly, this family gets its name from the Greek words “cten” meaning “comb” and “lophos” meaning “crest”. This is due to the unique shape of the leaves which are arranged in a comb-like fashion. These trees also have a special relationship with certain species of ants, which live within their hollowed-out branches and defend the tree from herbivores. This mutualistic relationship allows both parties to thrive in their respective environments.
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Short Description
Ctenolophon is the only genus in the flowering plant family Ctenolophonaceae. It has two recognized species:
Ctenolophon englerianus Mildbr. – central Africa (Nigeria, Gabon, Zaire, Angola)
Ctenolophon parvifolius Oliv. – New Guinea and southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Philippines)
This species is well-represented in fossil pollen from the Late Cretaceous onwards. Based on fossils, it was formerly also found in northern South America, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian Subcontinent.
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