Description of the family:
Trees, shrubs, suffrutices or lianes; branches sometimes with coiled tendrils (Gouania and Helinus). Stipules present, sometimes spiny. Leaves alternate (sometimes opposite or subopposite) or fasciculate, simple. Flowers bisexual or rarely unisexual, actinomorphic. Sepals (4-)5. Petals (4-)5 or 0. Disk usually present and well-developed. Ovary superior, subinferior or inferior, 2-4-locular. Fruit a drupe, capsule or schizocarp.

Worldwide:
49 genera and 900 species, cosmopolitan, but especially in tropical and warm areas.

Zimbabwe:
8 genera and 18 taxa.

  • Berchemia Neck. ex DC.
  • Gouania Jacq.
  • Helinus E. Mey. ex Endl.
  • Lasiodiscus Hook. f.
  • Phylica L.
  • Rhamnus L.
  • Scutia (DC.) Brongn.
  • Ziziphus Mill.