| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Eudicots-Rosids I
Order: Rosales
Family: Rhamnaceae
Family Common Name: Buckthorn Family
Genera: Ceanothus |
Defining Features: The family
has many characters in common with the Vitaceae. Some species have associated
with nitrogen fixing bacteria (Ceanothus).
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Inflorescences are determinate, axillary, terminal in cymes,
umbels, spikes, heads or panicles or reduced to a single flower. Flowers
are actinomorphic and bisexual. Petals are clawed. Hypantium has nectary
inside. Ovaries are superior to inferior with axile placentation. Fruit
and Seed Features: Dicotyledon. Fruits often are an indehiscent drupe or
occasionally a schizocarp. Seeds are with or without endosperm. Vegetative
Features: Habit as herbs, shrubs, trees or lianas with twining stems or
tendril. Leaves alternate or opposite and stipulate. Leaves have toothed
margins.
Distribution: Worldwide, but
more common in the subtropical and tropical regions with limestone soils.
Economic Use: As cultivated
garden ornamentals and as the source of many brilliant dyes of green and
yellow. Fruits from some species are used medicinally as a laxative, the
leaves as wound dressings and as a treatment for cholera. Pedicle of Hovenia
dulcis (Raisin tree) and fruit of Ziziphus jujuba (Jujube)
are edible.
Number of Genera Globally:
45
Number of Species Globally:
850
