| Family Celastraceae - Bittersweets, Spindle Trees Celastraceae is a botanical family of 1,300 species of vines, shrubs, and small trees, in about 100 genera. Celastrus , Euonymus and Maytenus widespread in temperate climates. Tree Encyclopedia | Trees Index | Fruit Trees | Nut Trees | Plant a tree! | |
Celastraceae leaves are simple and alternate or opposite; stipules are small and caducous or absent. The flowers are bisexual or sometimes functionally unisexual, actinomorphic, and are small and often greenish. The calyx comprises 4 or 5 usually basally connate sepals. The corolla is rarely absent or more commonly consists of 4 or 5 distinct petals. The androecium consists of 4 or 5 or rarely 10 distinct stamens that alternate with the petals. The gynoecium is a single compound pistil of 2-5 carpels, a single short style, and a superior or rarely half inferior ovary with 2-5 locules, each containing usually 2 axile ovules. An annular nectary disk surrounds and is usually adnate to the ovary. The fruit is a capsule, berry, samara, or drupe. [1] |
![]() Spindle Tree Euonymus nikoensis | ![]() Winterberry Euonymus Euonymus bungeanus | ![]() Himalayan Spindle Tree Euonymus hamiltonianus |
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| References 1. Dr. Gerald (Gerry) Carr, Emeritus Professor of Botany, University of Hawai`i at Manoa, "Celastraceae" |
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