Elaeocarpaceae

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Read about Elaeocarpaceae in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Elaeocarpaceae (from the genus Elaeocarpus, derived from the Greek meaning olive-fruit). Elaeocar-Pus Family. Trees or shrubs, with entire alternate or opposite leaves without slime-cells: flowers usually bisexual, regular, hypogynous; involucre 0; sepals 4-5, separate or connate, valvate; petals 4—5, or 0, separate, rarely connate, usually valvate, often incised; stamens many; anthers opening by terminal pores; hypogynous intra-staminal disk present; ovary superior, 2- to many-celled, rarely 1-celled; ovules many in each cell; style 1; stigmas 1 to several: fruit capsular or drupaceous. Seven genera and about 120 species are distributed in the tropics of both hemispheres. Elaeocarpus contains 60 species and Sloanea 44 species. The family is closely related to the Tiliaceae with which it is often united and from which it is distinguished by anatomical characteristics, and usually also by the often hairy and firm, or incised, petals, or by the absence of petals. A vegetable ivory used in carving is obtained from the large stone of the drupe of Elaeocarpus sphaericus of India. Those of E. tuberculatus (India and Java) are worn as amulets. The seeds of Sloanea dentata of Guiana are eaten like chestnuts. The bark of Crinodendron Patagua of Chile is used for tanning. The wood of Aristotelia Maqui of Chile is variously used. Its leaves are medicinal and its berries are edible. Two genera are cultivated in North America: Aristotelia, California; Elaeocarpus, not hardy. CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

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