Trees, shrubs, often with thorns, or lianas with tendrils or twining stems
Distribution
Nearly cosmopolitan, but espacialy diverse in tropical regions; characteristic of limestone soils
Floral characters
bisexual, radial, small, with disk-like to cylindrical hypanthium. Sepals 4 or 5, distinct. Petals 4 or 5, distinct, usually + /- concave or hooded and inclosing the anther at flowering. Stamens 4 or 5, distinct, opposite the petals. Pollen grains tricolpate. Carpels 2 or 3, connate. Ovary superior to inferior. Nectare-producing tissue on inner surface of hypanthium. Stigmas +/- capitate.
Leaf characters
Alernate or less commonly opposite, simple, entire to serrate, with strongly pinnate or palmate venation, tertiary veines often strongly latter-like.
Stipules
present
Fruit characters
dehiscent to indehiscent drupe ( then +/- schizocarpic).
Glands
absent
Hairs
present, simple
Latex
absent
Uses
Zizyphus jujuba, Hovenia dulcis, Cianothus, Colletia, Pomaderris, Rhamnus and Phylica.
Chemical characters
often with tannins
Distribution maps
(online von http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/ . Dort zitiert wie unter jedem Diagramm vermerkt):
Rhamnaceae
map: see van Steenis & van Balgooy 1966; Meusel et al. 1978
