Description of the family:
Trees, shrubs or herbs, sometimes with coloured latex. Stipules 0. Leaves opposite, rarely subopposite, or whorled, simple, often gland-dotted; margin entire. Flowers bisexual, dioecious or polygamous, actinomorphic. Sepals (2-)4-5(-6 or more), imbricate. Petals 4-5(-6 or more), free. Stamens numerous, in fascicles. Ovary superior, 1-5-locular. Fruit a capsule, berry or drupe.
Comment:
The genus Hypericum is sometimes placed in a separate family, the Hypericaceae.
Worldwide:
45 genera and 1,370 species, tropical and Northern temperate.
Zimbabwe:
4 genera and 11 taxa.
- Garcinia L.
- Harungana Lam.
- Hypericum L.
- Psorospermum Spach