| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Eudicots-Rosids II
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Family Common Name: Citrus Family
Genera: Citrus, Dictamnus, Ptelea, Ruta, Phellodendron |
Defining Features: The family
is distinguished from other families in the order Sapindales by the presence
of the aromatic oil glands in its leaves.
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Inflorescences are determinate in cyme or rarely reduced to a
solitary flower. Flowers bisexual or unisexual and often actinomorphic.
Plants are monoecious or dioecious. Outer stamens are usually opposite
the petals. Ovaries are superior and deeply lobed with axile placentation.
Fruit and Seed Features: Dicotyledon. Fruit a capsule, drupe, berry, hesperidium,
samara, schizocarp or cluster of follicles. Vegetative Features: Habit
as shrubs, herbs and trees with aromatic oil glands and prickles, spines
or thorns. Leaves are often opposite or alternate, glandular and punctate.
Leaves simple and occasionally compound. Stipules are lacking.
Distribution: Warm temperate
and tropical regions, with the greatest diversity in Australia and South
Africa.
Economic Use: The family is
of great economic importance as the source of citrus fruits such as oranges,
lemons, limes, grapefruits and tangerines. The aromatic oils are used medicinally.
Also many genera in this family are used as cultivated garden and indoor
ornamentals.
Number of Genera Globally: 155
Number of Species Globally: 930
