Family: Elaeocarpaceae

Representative Image
Representative image.

Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Family Parent: Oxalidales Status: Valid

Common Names:

  • Elaeocarpaceae - English, United States of America

Vegetative Morphology

Habit: Shrubs or mostly trees in the study region.

Main axis: Trunks often with thin, flying buttresses.

Leaves: Leaves simple, typically alternate but sometimes subopposite, especially at the branch apex; petioles usually thickened at both ends, usually flexed at the apex.

Stipules: Stipules persistent or caducous, sometimes large.

Reproductive Morphology

Inflorescence: Inflorescence a raceme, panicle, or cyme, usually axillary or appearing ramiflorous.

Flowers: Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic; sepals 3-9, free or fused at base, valvate; petals 3-5, free, or caducous to absent; stamens numerous, inserted on disk; ovary superior, 1-several locular, the style 1, the placentation axile.

Fruit: Fruit a loculicidal capsule, sometimes armed with soft to indurate spines.

Seeds: Seeds usually 1 per fruit, sometimes up to 3, often arillate.