Putranjivaceae

Putranjivaceae
Putranjiva roxburghii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Putranjivaceae
Genera

The rosid family Putranjivaceae is composed of about 210 species of evergreen tropical trees distributed into 4 genera. Members of this family have 2-ranked coriaceous leaves, which, if fresh, typically have a radish-like or peppery taste. The flowers are fasciculate and usually small, and the fruits of these species are a single-seeded drupe crown by the persistent stigmas. This family has its origin in Africa and Malesia.

Taxonomy

This family was formerly a tribe (Drypeteae) of the subfamily Phyllanthoideae in the Euphorbiaceae. When the Phyllanthoideae was separated to form the new family Phyllanthaceae, it was decided that Drypeteae also stand alone.