Rhamnaceae
(Coffeeberry/Buckthorn Family)
Habit
- shrubs or trees
Leaves
-
alternate,
simple,
stipulate
Inflorescence
-
racemose or
cymose
Flowers
-
perfect; with small
hypanthium
Petals
- long
clawed,
concave (hood-like) petals
Stamens
- opposite the petals
Gynoecium
-
syncarpous, of 2-3
carpels;
ovary usu.
superior, with 1-2
ovules per
locule
Fruit
-
drupe or
capsule; splitting into segments along
sutures then
dehiscing
(schizocarpic)
Diversity
- 55 genera / 900 spp
Distribution
- widely distributed especially in tropics and southern California
Economics
- some cultivated ornamentals; only edible member is Zizyphus, fleshy fruit called jujube
Notes
-
Images
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