5. Clusiaceae Lindley
Mangosteen Family Mangosteen Family
Norman K. B. Robson
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.
Genera 15, species ca. 700 (1 in the flora): Florida, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar); pantropical.
SELECTED REFERENCE 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.
