Trees, shrubs, or lianas. Climbing by hook-like branches or twining stems. 855 species in 55 genera (Judd, 1999). Major genera are Maytenus (200), Euonymus (200), Salicia (170), Hippocratea (100)
Distribution
Tropical and subtropical regions
Floral characters
Inflorescence determinate, temrinal or axillary. Flowers bisexual (seldomly unisexual, then monoecious or diecious). Radial, sometimes with short hypanthium. Petals 4-5, distinct, slightly connate. Sepals 4-5, distinct, imbricate, sometimes valvate. Stamens 4-5 alternate to petals. Filaments distinct to connate. Carpels 2-5, connate. Ovary superior to half-inferior. Stigma capitate or lobed. 2 to various ovules per locule. Conspicious intrastaminal nectar disk, somdetimes adnate to ovary
Leaf characters
opposite or alternate, simple, entire or serrated, with pinnate venation
Stipules
present or absent
Fruit characters
loculicidal capsule, sometimes strongly 3-lobed. Drupe, or berry. Seed with orange to red a ril, sometimes winged
Glands
present; on nectar disk
Hairs
present; simple to branched
Latex
absent
Uses
Catha edulis (tea from leaves), Euonymus europaeus (timber, seed provides oil for soap). Celastrus spp., Maytenus spp., Euonymus spp., Eleodendron spp. used as ornamentals
