4 MALPHIGIALES
Introduction
The order contains about 35 families and about 13.100 species. The Malpighiales are considered monophyletic (belonging in one group); this is based on molecular data; the group is morphologically rather heterogenous and there still is discussion about some relationships. A good taxonomy is interesting from homeopathic view: botanic relations are reflected in homeopathic pictures. For example Gambogia appears to belong to the Clusiaceae (‘Guttiferae’) of this order and reminds very much the picture of Croton tiglium (Crotonoideae in the Euphorbiaceae s.s.). Strangely enough Hypericum is in this same Clusiaceae. It has quite a different picture; and again we are saved by taxonomy: new evidence supports the idea that Hypericum has to be placed in its own family (Hypericaceae) and then its relation with other Malpighiales is understood (for example with Viola, Coca and Banistera)
Several families will be discussed below. Of these families the Violaceae, Salicaceae (Populus and Salix), Achariaceae, Turneraceae (Damiana aphrodisiaca) and Passifloraceae (Passiflora incarnata) are closely related (and in the past were seen as one order, the Violales). Again the Turneraceae (Damiana), Passifloraceae (Passiflora) and Achariaceae are more close because of the caracteristic of containing cyanogenic glucosides. Because the homeopathic differences between this group and the Euphorbiaceae we will call it ‘the group of the Violales’ (in the text referred to as ‘-->Gr V’ from Violales) and ‘the group of the Euphorbiaceae’ (‘-->Gr E’ from Euphorbiaceae) is taken for the Euphorbiaceae with for example Gambogia.
The Euphorbiaceae are different from ‘the group of the Violales, botanically as well as homeopathically. Jan Scholten has extensive experience with the Euphorbiaceae; he gives a separate account in the chapter ’Euphorbiaceae’ after the introduction.
Although the Salicaceae botanically are placed in the group of the Violales they are homeopathically not very close to this group and will be mentioned seperatly when necesary.
The different families in the Malpighiales concerning homeopathy.