Putranjivaceae | |
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Putranjiva roxburghii | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malpighiales |
Family: |
Putranjivaceae Endl. |
Genera | |
Putranjivaceae is a rosid family that is composed of 216 species of evergreen tropical trees distributed into (presently) four 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. It is the only family outside Brassicales that produces mustard oils.
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.