The Celastraceae (staff-vine or bittersweet) are a family of 97 genera and 1,350 species of herbs, vines, shrubs and small

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

s, belonging to the order Celastrales. The great majority of the

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial ...

are

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

, with only ''Celastrus'' (the staff vines), ''Euonymus'' (the spindles) and ''Maytenus'' widespread in

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...

climates, and '' Parnassia'' (bog-stars) found in alpine and arctic climates. Of the 97 currently recognized genera of the family Celastraceae, 19 are native to Madagascar and these include at least 57 currently recognized species. Six of these 19 genera (''

Brexiella ''Brexiella'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Madagascar. Species: *'' Brexiella cymosa'' *'' Brexiella ilicifolia'' References {{Taxonbar, from=Q150355 Celastraceae Celastrale ...

'', '' Evonymopsis'', '' Hartogiopsis'', ''

Polycardia ''Polycardia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Madagascar. Species: * '' Polycardia aquifolium'' Tul. * '' Polycardia lateralis'' O.Hoffm. * '' Polycardia libera'' O.Hoffm. * '' Poly ...

'', ''

Ptelidium ''Ptelidium'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Madagascar. Species: *'' Ptelidium ovatum'' *'' Ptelidium scandens'' References {{Taxonbar, from=Q9064096 Celastraceae Celastrales ...

'', and ''

Salvadoropsis ''Salvadoropsis'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. It only contains one known species, ''Salvadoropsis arenicola'' H.Perrier It is native to Madagascar. Description ''Salvadoropsis arenicola'' i ...

'') are endemic to Madagascar.

Genera

A complete list of the genera is: * '' Acanthothamnus'' * '' Allocassine'' * '' Anthodon'' * ''

Apatophyllum ''Apatophyllum'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Southwestern and Eastern Australia. Species: *'' Apatophyllum constablei'' *'' Apatophyllum flavovirens'' *'' Apatophyllum macgillivr ...

'' * ''

Apodostigma ''Apodostigma'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Tropical Africa and Madagascar. Species: *'' Apodostigma pallens'' References {{Taxonbar, from=Q8202710 Celastraceae Celastrales ...

'' * ''

Arnicratea ''Arnicratea'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Tropical Asia. Species: *'' Arnicratea cambodiana'' *'' Arnicratea ferruginea'' References {{Taxonbar, from=Q5399201 Celastraceae ...

'' * ''

Bequaertia ''Bequaertia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Tropical Africa. Species: *'' Bequaertia mucronata'' References {{Taxonbar, from=Q16207898 Celastraceae Celastrales genera ...

'' * ''

Brassiantha ''Brassiantha'' is a genus of flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vess ...

'' * '' Brexia'' * ''

'' * ''

Campylostemon ''Campylostemon'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Western, Eastern and Southern Tropical Africa. Species: *'' Campylostemon angolensis'' *'' Campylostemon bequaertii'' *'' Campyloste ...

'' * ''

Canotia ''Canotia holacantha'', also known as crucifixion thorn or simply canotia, is a flowering shrub / small tree in the family Celastraceae. It is the only species in the genus ''Canotia''. Distribution The plant is native to the higher elevation de ...

'' – crucifixion thorn * '' Cassine'' * '' Catha'' – khat * '' Celastrus'' – staff vine or staff tree * '' Cheiloclinium'' * '' Crocoxylon'' * ''

Crossopetalum ''Crossopetalum'', commonly known as Christmas-berries or maiden berries, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Celastraceae. It comprises about 30-40 species. Description ''Crossopetalum'' taxa are shrubs or trees, with opposite or w ...

'' * '' Cuervea'' * '' Denhamia'' * '' Dicarpellum'' * ''

Dinghoua ''Dinghoua globularis'' is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Celastraceae. It is a shrub or tree native to northern Queensland. It is the sole species in genus ''Dinghoua''. References {{Taxonbar, from1=Q21293607, from2= ...

'' * ''

Elachyptera ''Elachyptera'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Tropical and Southern Africa, Madagascar, Central and Southern Tropical America. Species: *'' Elachyptera bipindensis'' *'' Elachyptera c ...

'' * '' Elaeodendron'' * ''

Empleuridium ''Empleuridium'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae, with a single species ''Empleuridium juniperinum''. Its native range is the Cape Provinces of South Africa. Taxonomy The genus and species were first named and ...

'' * '' Euonymus'' – spindle * '' Evonymopsis'' * ''

Fraunhofera ''Fraunhofera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Celastraceae. It has only one species, ''Fraunhofera multiflora'', called pau branco, which is a Brazilian endemic. Found in deciduous forests of Brazil, they are little-studied shrubs ...

'' * '' Gloveria'' * '' Glyptopetalum'' * '' Goniodiscus'' * '' Gyminda'' * '' Gymnosporia'' * '' Hartogiella'' * '' Hartogiopsis'' * ''

Hedraianthera ''Hedraianthera'' is a genus of a sole recognised species of shrubs or small trees endemic to Australia from the family Celastraceae. The species ''Hedraianthera porphyropetala'' grows naturally in eastern Australia in littoral or sub-tropical ...

'' * '' Helictonema'' * ''

Hexaspora ''Hexaspora'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae The Celastraceae (staff-vine or bittersweet) are a family of 97 genera and 1,350 species of herbs, vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the orde ...

'' * '' Hippocratea'' * ''

Hylenaea ''Hylenaea'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Hispaniola Hispaniola (, also ; es, La Española; Latin and french: Hispaniola; ht, Ispayola; tnq, Ayiti or Quisqueya) is an island in t ...

'' * '' Hypsophila'' * ''

Kokoona ''Kokoona'' is a genus of plants in the family Celastraceae. Species include: References Celastrales genera Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Celastraceae-stub ...

'' * ''

Lauridia ''Lauridia'' is a genus of flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') ...

'' * '' Lepuropetalon'' * ''

Loeseneriella ''Loeseneriella'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Tropical and Subtropical Old World. It is found in the countries and regions of Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Bismarck Arc ...

'' * ''

Lophopetalum ''Lophopetalum'' is a genus of plants in the family Celastraceae. Species include: * ''Lophopetalum arnhemicum'' Byrnes * ''Lophopetalum beccarianum'' Pierre * '' Lophopetalum duperreanum'' Pierre * ''Lophopetalum floribundum'' Wight * ''Lophop ...

'' * '' Lydenburgia'' * '' Macgregoria'' * '' Maurocenia'' * '' Maytenus'' – maiten * ''

Menepetalum ''Menepetalum'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the family Celastraceae. The genus is endemic to New Caledonia in the Pacific and contains four species. Its closest relative is ''Dinghoua'' from Australia.Simmons, M. P., M. J. McKenna, C ...

'' * '' Microtropis'' * '' Monimopetalum'' * '' Mortonia'' * '' Moya'' * '' Mystroxylon'' * '' Nicobariodendron'' * '' Orthosphenia'' * '' Parnassia'' * ''

Paxistima ''Paxistima'' is a small genus of shrubs in the family Celastraceae containing two North American species. *''Paxistima canbyi'' (Canby's mountain-lover) is an uncommon shrub native to the Appalachians and surrounding areas in the United State ...

'' * ''

Peripterygia ''Peripterygia marginata'' is a species of shrubs in the family Celastraceae. It is endemic to New Caledonia and the only species of the genus ''Peripterygia''. Its closest relatives are '' Crossopetalum'' and ''Siphonodon ''Siphonodon'' is ...

'' * '' Peritassa'' * ''

Plagiopteron ''Plagiopteron'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Southeastern China to Indo-China Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental por ...

'' * ''

Platypterocarpus ''Platypterocarpus'' is a genus of plants in the family Celastraceae. It contains a single species, ''Platypterocarpus tanganyikensis'' , endemic to Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muu ...

'' * '' Plenckia'' * ''

Pleurostylia ''Pleurostylia'' is a small genus of shrubs in the family Celastraceae containing 13 described species. Of these 3 are accepted species names. Species Accepted species in this genus: *''Pleurostylia africana'' Loes. *''Pleurostylia capensis'' ...

'' * ''

Pottingeria ''Pottingeria'' is a genus consisting of a single species, ''Pottingeria acuminata'', a small tree or large shrub native to mountainous areas of southeast Asia ( Assam, Myanmar, and Thailand). It had long been thought, at least by some, to belon ...

'' * '' Prionostemma'' * '' Pristimera'' * '' Psammomoya'' * '' Pseudocatha'' * ''

Pseudosalacia ''Pseudosalacia streyi'' is a species of plant in the family Celastraceae, and is the only species in the genus ''Pseudosalacia''. It is endemic to South Africa. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat lo ...

'' * ''

Pterocelastrus ''Pterocelastrus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Celastraceae. It includes four species native to southeastern and southern Africa, ranging from Malawi and Mozambique to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Species *''Pterocelastrus dreg ...

'' * '' Putterlickia'' * ''

Quetzalia ''Quetzalia'' are a genus of flowering plants in the staff vine and bittersweet family Celastraceae, disjunctly distributed in Mexico, Central America, and Brazil. They can be trees, shrubs or lianas. Cyrus Longworth Lundell split them off from ...

'' * '' Reissantia'' * '' Robsonodendron'' * '' Rzedowskia'' * '' Salacia'' * ''

Salacighia ''Salacighia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae The Celastraceae (staff-vine or bittersweet) are a family of 97 genera and 1,350 species of herbs, vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the order Celastra ...

'' * ''

Salaciopsis ''Salaciopsis'' is a genus of shrubs and small trees in the family Celastraceae. The genus is endemic to New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt ...

'' * ''

'' * '' Sarawakodendron'' * '' Scandivepres'' * '' Schaefferia'' * ''

Semialarium ''Semialarium'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae The Celastraceae (staff-vine or bittersweet) are a family of 97 genera and 1,350 species of herbs, vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the order Celastr ...

'' * ''

Simicratea ''Simicratea'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae The Celastraceae (staff-vine or bittersweet) are a family of 97 genera and 1,350 species of herbs, vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the orde ...

'' * '' Simirestis'' * ''

Siphonodon ''Siphonodon'' is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Celastraceae. Species The Catalogue of Life The Catalogue of Life is an online database that provides an index of known species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms. ...

'' * '' Stackhousia'' * '' Tetrasiphon'' * '' Thyrosalacia'' * ''

Tontelea ''Tontelea'' is a genus of plants in the family Celastraceae. Species Species accepted by the Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in ...

'' * '' Torralbasia'' * '' Tricerma'' * ''

Tripterococcus ''Tripterococcus'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae The Celastraceae (staff-vine or bittersweet) are a family of 97 genera and 1,350 species of herbs, vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the order Cel ...

'' * ''

Tripterygium ''Tripterygium'' is a genus of plants in the family Celastraceae. It includes three species of lianas or scrambling shrubs native to Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Myanmar. '' Tripterygium wilfordii'' is used in Traditional Chinese m ...

'' * ''

Tristemonanthus ''Tristemonanthus'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Celastraceae. Its native range is Western and Western Central Tropical Africa Although tropical Africa is mostly familiar to the West for its rainforests, this bioge ...

'' * '' Wimmeria'' * '' Xylonymus'' * ''

Zinowiewia ''Zinowiewia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Celastraceae. It includes 14 species native to the tropical Americas, ranging from northeastern Mexico to French Guiana and Bolivia. 14 species are accepted: * '' Zinowiewia australis'' ...

'' ; Fossil genera * †''

Celastrinites ''Celastrinites'' is an extinct genus of prehistoric plants in the family Celastraceae. ''Celastrinites wardii'' is from the Cretaceous of British Columbia, Canada. ''C. elegans'' is from the Florissant fossil bed of Colorado. References * ...

References

University of Maryland: Cronquist Family Synonymy for Celastraceae
Rosid families Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773) {{Celastraceae-stub