Erythroxylaceae Kunth

First published in Nov. Gen. Sp. [H.B.K.] 5(21): 135 (ed. fol.); 175 (ed. qto.). 1822 [25 Feb 1822] (as "Erythroxyleae") (1822)nom. cons.
This family is accepted

Descriptions

Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Morphology General Habit
Glabrous shrubs or small trees
Morphology Branches
Branchlets erect to spreading, distichous or not, consisting of both long and short shoots
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules present, intra-petiolar, striate -nerved or non- striate, often 2 or 3-setulose at apex, persistent or caducous; cataphylls distichous, produced at base of new twigs, in form similar to foliar stipules.  Leaves simple, entire, alternate, petiolate or short- petiolate, pinnately veined.  Inflorescences fasciculate at nodes, sometimes short-pedunculate, with 1-many flowers
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers pedicellate, rarely short-pedicellate, small, actinomorphic, bisexual or unisexual, often heterostylous, in axils of leaves or cataphylls, subtended by small scarious bracteoles; calyx lobes 5, persistent, valvate, sepals united below; petals 5, free, alternate with sepals, imbricate in bud, caducous, usually appendaged on the adaxial surface with a 2- lobed ligule; stamens 10 in 2 whorls of 5, the outermost alternate with the petals, the filaments united at the base and usually forming a short tube surrounding the ovary, persistent, anthers 2-locular, longitudinally dehiscent; ovary superior, 3-locular, usually with only one locule ovuliferous; ovule solitary, axillary, pendulous, anatropos, epitropous, styles 3, free or partly connate at base, stigmas capitate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruits small, drupaceous and one-seeded
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds with straight embryo, with or without endosperm .
Note
Number of genera: One genus: Erythroxylum with 187 species native to the Neotropics. "Some native species of Erythroxylum, referred to in the literature as having pharmacological potential because they contain alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids, are widely used in medicine.  Among these is E. coca Lam., from which the cocaine alkaloid is extracted.  It has been used since 1879 as a local anaesthetic and for terminally ill patients (Brompton cocktail), but mainly illegally as a recreational drug sold in major urban centers to a considerable addict population.  This species has long been used as a ritualistic psychoactive medicinal plant by a host of South American tribes. In Brazil, Erythroxylum vacciniifolium Mart., popularly known as ""catuaba"", is used to stimulate the central nervous system in addition to exhibiting aphrodisiac properties. E. pelleterianum A. St.-Hil. is used to treat stomach pains. E. myrsinites Mart. and E. suberosum A. St.-Hil. are used in the tanning industry." Notes on delimitation: Recent molecular studies, supported by various morphological and anatomic characters, have shown affinity between Erythroxylaceae and Rhizophoraceae, and suggest that they belong to the order Malpighiales, sensu APG I (1998). In the classification proposed by the APG II (2003), the large affinity and the set of characters shared by both families led Erythroxylaceae and Rhizophoraceae to be considered, optionally, as a single family. The main characters shared by the two families are: alkaloids from the tropane and pyrrolidine groups, the presence of colleters, terminal buds protected by stipules and green embryos.
Diagnostic
Erythroxylum:  Leaves alternate. Bracteoles present.  Flowers fasciculate. Petals 5. Stamens 10, united at base by the filaments and usually forming a short tube. Ovary 3-locule. Ovule 1 per ovary. Key differences from similar families: Stamens 10, biseriate (5 and uniseriate in Linaceae). Petals usually appendaged on the adaxial surface. Calyxpersistent in fruit. Distinguishing characters (always present): Stipules intra-petiolar. Stamens united at the base by filaments and usually forming a short tube.
Distribution
Erythroxylum (Native, cultivated). Erythroxylum P.Browne - Mexico, Mesoamerica, Caribbean, South America.
[NTK]

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution
The Erythroxylaceae are a family of four genera and about 250 species. Three of the genera are small and are mainly found in tropical Africa, while Erythroxylum is most diverse in tropical America with about 20 species in Asia. Molecular systematic work has shown the family to be a well-supported sister group to Rhizophoraceae, and the two families were maintained as distinct in APG.
[TONG]

Erythroxylaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit
Trees, shrubs, or undershrubs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, rarely opposite, simple, entire; stipules intrapetiolar, rarely extrapetiolar, often caducous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers fasciculate, hermaphrodite, rarely subdioecious, hypogynous, actinomorphic
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx persistent, campanulate, lobes 5, imbricate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, free, deciduous, imbricate, mostly ligulate on the inside
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
Stamens 10, in 2 series, more or less connate at the base; anthers ellipsoid, 2-celled, opening lengthwise
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium
Ovary of 3 carpels, 3-celled, mostly two of the cells sterile, fertile cells 1–2-ovuled; ovules pendulous; styles 3, free or more or less connate; stigmas oblique, depressed-capitate or clavate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit drupaceous; seeds with or without endosperm; embryo straight
[FWTA]

Erythroxylaceae, N. K. B. Robson. Flora Zambesiaca 2:1. 1963

Morphology General Habit
Trees, shrubs or shrublets, glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate (or rarely opposite), simple, entire, penninerved, with stipules ± united and intrapetiolar (or rarely interpetiolar)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers axillary, solitary or in fascicles (rarely pedunculate), actinomorphic, bisexual or rarely subdioecious, heterostylic
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals (4) 5, valvate, ± united
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals (4) 5, contorted in bud, free, unguiculate, caducous, usually with a ventral ligule-like nectariferous appendage
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
Stamens 5 + 5, all fertile, with filaments united at the base to form a deep urceole or shallow rarely glandiferous cup; anthers basifixed, dehiscing longitudinally
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium
Ovary superior, 2–3 (4)-locular, with each loculus 1-ovulate (or rarely 2-ovulate); ovules pendulous; styles 2–3 (4), free or ± united, with stigmas clavate to obliquely capitate or depressed-capitate rarely acute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a 1-seeded fleshy drupe (or rarely a 3 (4)-locular 3 (4)-seeded capsule dehiscing longitudinally)
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds not compressed, exarillate, without or with scanty endosperm; embryo straight, with flat or semiconvex cotyledons
[FZ]

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit
Glabrous shrubs or trees; leaves alternate, simple, and entire; stipules present, often overlapping on young branches
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers small, solitary or clustered in the leaf-axils or at defoliated nodes, regular, perfect, often heterostylous; pedicels bracteate and usually angled
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx with 5 imbricate lobes, persistent; petals 5, free, deciduous, usually with a 2-lobed appendage (the ligule) on the inner side. Stamens 10 in 2 series, their filaments united below into a tube
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary superior, 3-celled, mostly with 2 of the cells sterile, the fertile cell with 1 (rarely 2) pendulous ovule; styles 3, usually each ending in a small capitate stigma
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a drupe, usually 1-seeded; seed with or without farinaceous endosperm.
Distribution
A pantropical family of 2 genera and over 200 species, all but one in the genus
[Cayman]

Erythroxylaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1984

Morphology General Habit
Trees, shrubs or subshrubs, glabrous
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, simple, entire, pinnately nerved; stipules ± united, intrapetiolar or rarely interpetiolar
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers axillary, solitary, in fascicles or rarely in pedunculate inflorescences, regular, hermaphrodite or unisexual, heterostylous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals (4–)5, valvate, ± united
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals (4–)5, with contorted aestivation, free, clawed, soon falling, usually with a ligulate nectariferous appendage inside
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
Stamens 10, all fertile, the filaments united at the base to form a shallow or urn-shaped cup, sometimes glandular; anthers basifixed, dehiscing longitudinally
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium
Ovary superior, 2–3(–4)-locular, the locules with 1 or rarely 2 pendulous ovules; styles 2–3(–4), free or ± united, with club-shaped, capitate or rarely acute stigmas
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a 1-seeded fleshy drupe or rarely a 3(–4)-locular, 3(–4)-seeded capsule dehiscing longitudinally
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds with no aril and no or very little endosperm; embryo straight with flat or semiconvex cotyledons
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of the Cayman Islands

    • Flora of the Cayman Islands
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Neotropikey

    • Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0