Monimiaceae

Description

Number of genera: 30-35

Number of species: 450

Description (from PLANTAE): Shrubs or small trees. Estipulate. Leaves opposite or rarely whorled, simple; blades conspicuously toothed, at least apically and in young leaves. Inflorescence axillary or borne on leafless nodes of older wood, cymes. Flowers actinomorphic, usually unisexual (plants monoecious, dioecious, or polygamous), perigynous, usually small; tepals 3-many, isomerous or grading from sepals to petals; androecium of 8-many stamens, arranged irregularly inside receptacle, the filaments distinct, basal nectary glands present or absent; dehiscence by longitudinal or horizontal slits; gynoecium apocarpous, the ovaries superior, the carpels 1-many, often deeply embedded in receptacle tissue, the styles prominent to very short, distinct, terminal, the stigmas terminal or decurrent; placentation apical, the ovules 1 per carpel, anatropous. Fruits drupe-like when enclosed by fleshy hypanthium, otherwise achenes, stalked or sessile, embedded or not in the fleshy, bright colored receptacle. Seeds 1 per carpel

Taxonomic notes (from PLANTAE): Closely related to the Lauraceae and Hernandiaceae, but distinguished from them by the indeterminate and often high number of floral parts. Only three families in Belize have the combination of opposite, toothed leaves and spicy, laurel-like odor: Monimiaceae, Siparunaceae and Chloranthaceae. New World Myrtaceae have opposite leaves and sometimes have a spicy odor, but the leaves are always entire or slightly crenate.

Distribution (from PLANTAE): Pantropical

Economic uses (from PLANTAE): The juicy, dark blue or red fruits are probably dispersed by birds

Map Distribution

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