Trees or shrubs, rarely dioecious or subdioecious. Leaves simple, alternate, often
distichous, rarely opposite, entire. Stipules axillary, small, intrapetiolar, mostly or
entirely connate, persistent or early caducous. Flowers small, axillary, solitary or in
fascicles, actinomorphic, bisexual, unisexual, hypogynous. Calyx campanulate, 5 - 6-lobed, persistent, free or shortly connate at base, imbricate. Petals 5 -
6, free, imbricate,
deciduouos, mostly appendaged inside. Stamens 10 or rarely 14 in 2 whorls, persistent;
filaments connate at base into a staminal tube with usually toothed margin, free parts
filiform; anthers ellipsoid, basifixed, cordate at base, 2-locular, dehiscence longitudinal,
latrorse. Ovary 1 - 3-locular, ovules 1 -
2 in each locule, normally only one locule fertile,
sterile ones sometimes enlarged in fruit, ovules pendulous, anatropous; styles 3, erect,
free or more or less connate with obliquely clavate or flattened stigmas. Fruit a drupe.
Seeds with or without endosperm; embryo oblong, erect; cotyledons flat to plano-convex.
Throughout tropics and subtropics, 3 genera and ca 250 species. One genus and 6 species in India.
Literature. KUNTH, C.S. in Humboldt, A, Bonpland A. & C.S. Kunth (1822). Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 5: 175. SCHULZ, O.E. (1907) IN: ENOLER, A. Das Pflanzcnrcich 29: 1 - 176. & (1931). Die Nat. pflanzenfam. ed. 2. 19a: 130 - 143. PAYENS, J.P.W.D. (1958). Erythroxylaceac. In: STEENIS, C.G.G.J. VAN, Fl. Males. 1, 5: 543 - 552.
Throughout tropics and subtropics, 3 genera and ca 250 species. One genus and 6 species in India.
Literature. KUNTH, C.S. in Humboldt, A, Bonpland A. & C.S. Kunth (1822). Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 5: 175. SCHULZ, O.E. (1907) IN: ENOLER, A. Das Pflanzcnrcich 29: 1 - 176. & (1931). Die Nat. pflanzenfam. ed. 2. 19a: 130 - 143. PAYENS, J.P.W.D. (1958). Erythroxylaceac. In: STEENIS, C.G.G.J. VAN, Fl. Males. 1, 5: 543 - 552.
