English: Mahogany family.
Synonym: Aitoniaceae.
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.
TaxonomyMeliaceae is one of the main Families in the
Sapindales in the
Apg3 classification.
Plant theoryIn the
Plant theory Meliaceae is placed in
Subphase 7.
BotanyTrees and shrubs, few herbs, mangroves; evergreen, but some are deciduous in the dry season or winter.
Leaves: alternate, spiral; usually pinnate, paripinnate; without stipules; buttresses; secretory cells, resin; nodes 5:5.
Inflorescence: panicles, cymes, spikes, or clusters.
Flowers: syncarpous; bisexual, actually mostly cryptically unisexual; buds longer than broad; petals longer than sepals; stamens connate; staminal tube, urceolate; mouth blocked by large stigma.
Fruit: large.
Seeds: large; seed coat vascularized.
Subfamilies
Subfamily Melioideae (= Aitoniaceae. Aitoneae): Aglaia (120), Dysoxylum (80), Guarea (75), Trichilia (70), Turraea (60), Chisocheton (50).
Subfamily Cedreloideae: Cedrela; Swietenia.