Plant Family Anacardiaceae

Anacardiaceae  Description Distribution: A tropical family of 55 genera and c. 500 species occurring in the Mediterranean region, S.W., C. & E. Asia and America. Represented in Pakistan by 8-9 genera and c. 23 species, of which half the taxa are cultivated, the commonest of these being the edible mango (Mangifera indica) and the pepper tree (Schinus molle). Detailed Description  Trees or shrubs, often polygamo-dioecious or monoecious and with an acrid or milky juice. Leaves usually alternate, exstipulate, simple or compound. Flowers paniculate or in racemes, uni- or bisexual, regular. Calyx 3-5-partite. Petals 3-5, free, alternating with the calyx lobes, sometimes absent (Pistacia). Disk present. Stamens as many as the petals or more; anthers basi- or dorsifixed. Ovary of 1-5, free or united carpels. Ovary with a single pendulous fertile ovule (Spondias) in each loculus, or with only one loculus with a fertile ovule (Rhus). Fruit a drupe, dry or succulent. Identification Key of Anacardiaceae  1. Petal absent 1. Petal present 2. Drupe 2-5-seeded 2. Drupe 1-seeded 3. Leaves simple 4. Fruiting pedicel (especially of sterile flowers) plumose. Drupe 5 mm long, dry 4. Fruiting pedicels glabrous. Drupe 80-100 mm long, succulent 3. Leaves compound, imparipinnate 5. Flowers precocious. Drupe 12 mm or more in length 5. Flowers not precocious. Drupe less than 7 mm long 6. Drupe globose. Stamens 10 6. Drupe compressed. Stamens usually 5 Floral diagram of Anacardiaceae  Floral Formula of Anacardiaceae Å; ♀k; K3-5 or (3-5); C 3-5; A (5-10); G (1-5)

Tired of checking for new posts ?

Get all posts directly in your mail.