trees, shrubs, lianes and a few herbs, s.t ant-inhabited, epiphytic or rarely aquatic lacking internal phloem
Distribution
cosmopolitan, most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions
Floral characters
Infloresecences: in cymen or panicle or rarely solit flowers bisexual and radial, sepal: 4 or 5, connate petals: 4 or 5 , connate, forming a corolla stamens: 4 or 5 , adnate to corolla tube carpels: 2-5 ovary inferior
Leaf characters
simple, and usually entire, usually decussate or opposite
Stipules
present; interpetiolar, usually connate
Fruit characters
capsule, berry, drupe, or schizocarp
Glands
absent
Hairs
present or absent
Latex
absent
Uses
Coffea spp. (Coffee): containing coffeine Cinchona spp.: containing qinine, a drug used in treating malaria Psychotria: drug used to induce vomiting Gardenia, Hamelia, Pentas, Randia, Rondeletia, Serissa, Hedyotis, Ixora provide ornamentals
