Citrus family
(Rutaceae)
Usually shrubs or trees with aromatic
parts, the members of the Citrus family have simple
to palmately or pinnately compound leaves and four-
or five-merous flowers. There are many members that
have imperfect flowers and are dioecious. The family
is divided into five to seven subfamilies that are often
treated as separate families. These divisions are based
on fruit type and flower details.
The Rutaceae are closely related to
theses families: Soapberry (Sapindaceae), Mahogany
(Meliaceae) and Cashew (Anacardiaceae).
Statistics :
- Genera/Species - 154/925
- U.S./Canadian - 20 genera; 130
species
- Food plants - Citrus (lemons,
limes, oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, etc.) and
Fortunella (kumquats)
- Medicinal plants - Citrus
(bergamot oil), Ruta (oil of rue), and
Zanthoxylum (toothache bark)
- Ornamental plants - Murraya
(orange-jasmine), Phellodendron (cork tree),
Poncirus (trifoliate orange; escaped cultivation
to become a pest species in areas of South Texas),
Ptelea (hop tree), Severinia (boxthorn)
and Triphasia (limeberry)
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