| Cneoraceae (syn Rutaceae) | |
|---|---|
| Cneorum tricoccon | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae Juss., 1789[1] |
Cneoraceae is a Mediterranean relict shrub family that evolved under tropical conditions during the Tertiary age. It is a dicot that generally favours higher altitudes and is rich in tannin. It produces both hermaphrodite and male flowers but the male flowers produce more fertile pollen, leading to a fruit.[2]
There are two genera and six species in tropical Africa, South and Southeast Asia, northern Australia, the Canary Islands, the northwestern Mediterranean, Cuba and China.