Meliaceae

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Family of plants commonly known as the Mahogany family

title: "Meliaceae" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["meliaceae", "sapindales-families"] description: "Family of plants commonly known as the Mahogany family" topic_path: "general/meliaceae" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meliaceae" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Family of plants commonly known as the Mahogany family ::

| fossil_range = | image = Chinaberry1216.JPG | image_caption = Melia azedarach in flower | taxon = Meliaceae | authority = Juss. | subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies | subdivision = *Cedreloideae

They are characterised by alternate, usually pinnate leaves without stipules, and by , apparently cryptically unisexual flowers borne in panicles, cymes, spikes or clusters. Most species are evergreen, but some are deciduous, either in the dry season or in winter.

The family includes about 53 genera and about 600 known species, with a pantropical distribution; one genus (Toona) extends north into temperate China and south into southeast Australia, another (Synoum) into southeast Australia, and another (Melia) nearly as far north. They most commonly grow as understory trees in rainforests, but are also found in mangroves and arid regions.

The fossil record of the family extends back into the Late Cretaceous.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Fruits_of_Chisocheton_paniculatus.JPG" caption="Fruits of ''[[Chisocheton cumingianus]]''"] ::

Uses

Various species are used for vegetable oil, soap-making, insecticides, and highly prized wood (mahogany).

Some economically important genera and species belong to this family:

Genera

58 genera are currently accepted. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Aglaiaodorata1web.jpg" caption="Chinese rice flower (''[[Aglaia odorata]]'')"] ::

The family is divided into two subfamilies, Cedreloideae and Melioideae, which are supported by phylogenetic evidence.

Subfamily Cedreloideae

This is also known as subfamily Swietenioideae.

tribe Cedreleae

Subfamily Melioideae

tribe: Aglaieae

Notes

References

  • (1975): A generic monograph of the Meliaceae. Blumea 22: 419–540.

References

  1. Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. (2009). "An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society.
  2. (2016). "The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase". Phytotaxa.
  3. (2007). "Flowering Plant Families of the World". Firefly Books.
  4. Atkinson, Brian A.. (January 2020). "Fossil evidence for a Cretaceous rise of the mahogany family". American Journal of Botany.
  5. (2021-08-28). "The Ethnobotany and Chemistry of South African Meliaceae: A Review". Plants (Basel, Switzerland).
  6. "Melia azedarach - Useful Tropical Plants".
  7. [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30001419-2 ''Meliaceae'' Juss.] {{Webarchive. link. (2023-12-12 ''[[Plants of the World Online]]''. Retrieved 9 February 2024.)
  8. Holzmeyer, L., Hauenschild, F., Mabberley, D.J. and Muellner-Riehl, A.N. (2021), Confirmed polyphyly, generic recircumscription and typification of Dysoxylum (Meliaceae), with revised disposition of currently accepted species. ''Taxon'', 70: 1248-1272. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12591
  9. (2008). "Floral Development in the Tribe Cedreleae (Meliaceae, Sub-family Swietenioideae): ''Cedrela'' and ''Toona''.". Annals of Botany.
  10. "Missouri Botanic Garden: list of Meliaceae genera (retrieved 18 January 2018)".
  11. "Koenen E (2011) Phylogenetic and biogeographic studies in Guareeae (Meliaceae: Melioideae) - (retrieved 18 January 2018)".
  12. Koenen E (2011) ''ibid.''

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