Tree or shrubs, erect or climbing; stems sometimes producing rootlets
thorny and buttressed at base. Leaves simple, alternate, spiral, opposite 01
decussate, margins crenate or entire, stipules cauducous. Inflorescence axillary
and or tenninal, sometimes extra-axillary, cymose, thyrsoid, paniculate, racemose,
fasciculate or solitary, usually bracteate. Flowers small, regular, bisexual or
unisexual and then plants dioecious. Sepals 4-5, imbricate or valvate, free or
united at base, usually persistent. Petals 4-5, contorted, imbricate, rarely valvate.
free, rarely absent. Stamens 4 or 5, in a single whorl alternating with the petals
(except in Nicobariodendron with 2 stamens); filaments inserted on the disc,
on its margin or below it; anthers introrse; pollen grains tricolporate or triporate.
Ovary 2-5-loculed, partly or entirely immersed in the disc; style distinct, short;
stigma simple or lobed; ovules mostly 2 in each locule. Disc fleshy or
membranous, cupular or patelliform, entire. Fruits capsular, or drupaceous.
Seeds arillate or exarillate, sometimes winged; endosperm present (except in
Kokoona).
Tropical and temperate regions of both the hemispheres, 87 genera and
ca 780 species; 12 genera and 82 species in India.
Literature.
BULLOCK, A.A. (1958). Nomina conservanda proposita. Taxon 7: 164.
DING HOU (1962). Celastraceae I. In Fl Males. Ser. 1,6: 277-291. DING HOU (1964). Celastraceac
II. In Fl. Males. Ser. 1,6: 389-421 .
SIDDIQI, M.A. (1977):Celastraceae. In Fl. W. Pak. 109: 1-
15. LOESENER, L.E .T.
(1942). In Engl. & Prantl, Pflanzenfam. ed. 2, 20 b. 100-200.
