Garryaceae Lindl.

Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Morphology General Habit

Evergreen trees or shrubs

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, decussate simple, entire or pinnatifid, lamina leathery, simple trichomes present or rarely absent, margin entire; estipulate; petioles connate or sub - sessile

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence terminal catkins or racemes, pedunculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers unisexual, dioecious, actinomorphic, anemophilous, bracts present, rarely absent; perianth parts 2, sepaloid, fused and massively reduced or absent in pistillate flowers, with 4 free members in staminate flowers; stamens (0-)2(-4), equal in number to perianth parts, persistent, free from and alternating with perianth members, anthers dehiscing via longitudinal slits, basifixed; ovary inferior or partly inferior, syncarpous, carpels 2(-3), style 2(-3)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a berry, persistent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (1-)2(-3), small.

Diagnostic

Key differences from similar families: Differs from members of the Cornaceae in having a berry as opposed to a drupe as a fruit, and lacking the involucres of petal -like bracts. Distinguishing characters (always present): Evergreen. Dioecious. Catkins. Fruit a berry.

Note

Number of genera: 1: Garrya Lindl. with ca. 12 species. Notes on delimitation: Placed as the type family in the order Garryales along with East-Asian Aucuba Thunb. and the monotypic Eucommiaceae of central China.

Distribution

Native but also widely cultivated as an ornamental. Mesophytic and semi-xerophytic environments, often forming part of the forest understorey in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. Coastal chaparral to mountain slopes over 4,000m above sea-level.