Author:
Jan Scholten
Book:
Qjurious
Type:
Info
Chapter:
3-655.57.00
Meliaceae
English: Mahogany family.
Genera: 50; 600 species.
Clades: Sapindales.
Region: pantropical; Toona extends north into temperate China and south into southeast Australia, Synoum into southeast Australia, Melia nearly as far north.
Content: bitter triterpenoids; gedunin, a limonoid, antibacterial, insecticidal, antimalarial, antiallergic, anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, heat shock protein inhibitor.
DD: Nitrogen; Sulphur; Bromium; Silver series.
Use: the wood of Meliaceae is typically reddish, lustrous, easy to work, and free of warping under changes in relative humidity and thus highly suited for cabinet making.
Taxonomy
Meliaceae is one of the main Families in the Sapindales in the Apg3 classification.
Plant theory
In the Plant theory Meliaceae is placed in Subphase 7.
Botany
Trees and shrubs, few herbs, mangroves; evergreen, but some are deciduous in the dry season or winter.
Leaves: alternate, usually pinnate; without stipules.
Flowers: syncarpous; bisexual, actually mostly cryptically unisexual.
Inflorescence: panicles, cymes, spikes, or clusters.
Subfamilies
Subfamily Melioideae (= Aitoniaceae. Aitoneae): Aglaia (120), Dysoxylum (80), Guarea (75), Trichilia (70), Turraea (60), Chisocheton (50).
Subfamily Cedreloideae: Cedrela; Swietenia.