Ochnaceae

Ochna Family

Trees, shrubs and occasionally herbs. Leaves alternate, simple, mostly with numerous parallel lateral veins, rarely pinnate; stipules present. Flowers bisexual, regular, in clusters. Sepals 5(-6), free or united at base. Petals mostly 5, free. Stamens 5, 10 or many, occasionally in several whorls, attached to a disc, the filaments persistent. Carpels 2-15, united, or free (though sometimes buried in receptacle) and with a common style; anthers opening by pores. Ovary superior; ovules 1-many in each chamber. Receptacle usually swelling. Fruit a berry, capsule or cluster of drupes.

A diverse, loosely-defined family sometimes segregated into other families.

Several species of Lophira, African Oak, are used for commercial timber production.

Woody plants with mostly 5 sepals and petals, the numerous stamens having anthers that open by pores.

About 37 genera and 460 species from tropics, mostly S America, mostly Brazil (Australia has 1 native genus, Brackenridgea, with 1 species).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Ochnaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Rosanae
order      Malpighiales
Higher taxa
Subordinate taxa
genus        Ochna L.