Taxonomy in Winteraceae

Summary After a review of a number of characters of the Winteraceae, two topics are discussed. Firstly, it is argued that determination factors of place, size, form, and function of petals and stamens can become unlocked and fixed again in a different way, giving rise to a new form: the stamen with a petaloid appendage, which consequently has to be considered as derived. Secondly, the differences between the Old World sectionTasmanniaand the New World sectionDrimysof the genusDrimysare discussed on the basis of two alternative clado‐eventograms. It is suggested that the low chromosome number of sectionTasmanniais an apomorphy and thatDrimysin its wide sense should be upheld.