RUTACEAE - Citrus Family
Shrubs and trees, often aromatic (from compounds called
terpenoids)
Flowers bisexual or rarely unisexual, actinomorphic or rarely
zygomorphic
Fruit - capsule, hesperidium, drupe, samara,
schizocarp, follicle; edible citrus fruits are hesperidiums
(leathery-skinned berry)
Economic importance:
Citrus - orange, grapefruit, lemon,
lime, tangerine, citron;
Fortunella - kumquat,
Medicinal uses - members of the Rutaceae produce an array of
monoterpenes (essential oils) that have been used for a variety of
purposes, to include a general purpose tonic from the roots Ptelea
trifoliata.
Diagnostic characteristics: shrubs and trees with aromatic oil
glands, some spiny or thorny
IMAGE GALLERY
FLOWERING
PLANT GATEWAY
