Clusiaceae

Shrubs or trees [lianas], evergreen, usually glabrous. Leaves decussate [whorled], estipulate; petiole usually present; blade margins entire; glandular canals not containing hypericin or pseudohypericin. Inflorescences terminal, dichasial, thyrsoid, or corymbiform or flowers solitary. Pedicels absent or relatively stout. Flowers unisexual [bisexual], actinomorphic, hypogynous; sepals persistent, [2–]4[–14], imbricate or decussate; petals persistent [deciduous], [3–]6(–8)[–14], without ventral scale; [stamens distinct or fasciculate; filaments nearly as wide as anthers; anthers usually dehiscing longitudinally, sometimes locellate, eglandular]; pistils 1; ovary superior, 3–12-locular; placentation axile; ovules 1–6+ per locule, anatropous, bitegmic, tenuinucellate; styles absent [relatively short]; stigmas [3–]6–9(–12). Fruits capsular [berrylike, drupelike], dehiscence septifragal. Seeds arillate, embryo usually green, straight, cotyledons minute [absent], endosperm absent.

Distribution

Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar), pantropical.

Discussion

Genera 15, species ca. 700 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Stevens, P. F. 2007. Clusiaceae—Guttiferae. In: K. Kubitzki et al., eds. 1990+. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. 10+ vols. Berlin etc. Vol. 9, pp. 48–66.

Lower Taxa

Clusia

Illustrations

	Family ⠉	Taxon	Illustrator ⠉
	Calophyllaceae Clusiaceae Podostemaceae	Mammea americana Clusia rosea Podostemum ceratophyllum	Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey John Myers