Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Archichlamydeae

Celastraceae - Spike thorn family

Literature

Robson, N.K.B. (1966) Celastraceae FZ 2(2)

Robson, N.K.B., Hallé, N., Mathew, B. and Blakelock, R. (1994) Celastraceae FTEA

Description of the family

Trees, shrubs or woody climbers, sometimes spiny. Stipules present or 0. Leaves simple, alternate, subopposite or opposite, sometimes fasciculate on short shoots, typically glabrous and coriaceous. Flowers bisexual, polygamous or unisexual, actinomorphic, in axillary and/or terminal cymes, panicles or thyrses, sometimes with accessory branches, sometimes fasciculate or solitary. Sepals and petals (3-)4-5(-6). Disk usually present. Ovary 2-5-locular, or 1-locular by abortion. Fruit a loculicidal capsule or composed of mericarps or baccate or drupaceous or dry and indehiscent. Seeds may be arillate or winged.

Worldwide: 88 genera and 1300 species, mainly tropical with some termperate.

No image yet

Links to genera: (11)

GenusContent
Allocassine N. Robson
Catha Forssk. ex Scop.Description
Elaeodendron Jacq.Description
Gymnosporia (Wight & Arn.) Hook. f.Description
Hippocratea L.Description
Maytenus MolinaDescription
Mystroxylon Eckl. & Zeyh.Description, Image
Pleurostylia Wight & Arn.Description, Image
Pterocelastrus Meisn.
Putterlickia Endl.
Salacia L.

Other sources of information about Celastraceae:

GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Celastraceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar


Copyright: Mark Hyde and Bart Wursten, 2007-10

Hyde, M.A. & Wursten, B. (2010). Flora of Mozambique: Family page: Celastraceae.
http://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=53, retrieved 3 September 2010

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