Meliaceae

{{Short description|Family of plants commonly known as the Mahogany family}} {{Automatic taxobox | fossil_range = {{fossil range|Campanian|Recent}} | image = Chinaberry1216.JPG | image_caption = ''[[Melia azedarach]]'' in flower | taxon = Meliaceae | authority = [[Antoine Laurent de Jussieu|Juss.]]<ref name=APGIII2009>{{Cite journal |last=Angiosperm Phylogeny Group |year=2009 |title=An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III |journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=161 |issue=2 |pages=105–121 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x |doi-access=free |hdl=10654/18083 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> | subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies | subdivision = *Cedreloideae *Melioideae }} '''Meliaceae''', the '''mahogany family''', is a [[flowering plant]] family of mostly trees and shrubs (and a few [[herbaceous]] plants, [[mangroves]]) in the order [[Sapindales]].

They are characterised by alternate, usually pinnate leaves without [[stipule]]s, and by {{botanygloss|syncarpous}}, apparently cryptically unisexual flowers borne in [[panicle]]s, [[Cyme (botany)|cymes]], [[Raceme#Spike|spikes]] or clusters.{{cn|date=January 2026}} Most species are [[evergreen]], but some are [[deciduous]], either in the [[dry season]] or in winter.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

The family includes about 53 genera and about 600 known species,<ref name="Christenhusz-Byng2016">{{cite journal | author1 = Christenhusz, M. J. M. | author2 = Byng, J. W. | year = 2016 | title = The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase | journal = Phytotaxa | volume = 261 | pages = 201–217 | url = http://biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/download/phytotaxa.261.3.1/20598 | doi = 10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1 | issue = 3 | bibcode = 2016Phytx.261..201C | doi-access = free | access-date = 2016-07-14 | archive-date = 2016-07-29 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160729085754/http://biotaxa.org/Phytotaxa/article/download/phytotaxa.261.3.1/20598 | url-status = live }}</ref> with a pantropical distribution; one genus (''[[Toona]]'') extends north into temperate China and south into southeast Australia, another (''Synoum'') into southeast Australia, and another (''Melia'') nearly as far north. They most commonly grow as understory trees in rainforests, but are also found in mangroves and arid regions.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Heywood|first1=V.H.|title=Flowering Plant Families of the World|last2=Brummitt|first2=R.K.|last3=Culham|first3=A.|last4=Seberg|first4=O.|publisher=Firefly Books|year=2007|isbn=9781842461655|location=Ontario, Canada|pages=207}}</ref>

The fossil record of the family extends back into the [[Late Cretaceous]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Atkinson|first=Brian A.|date=January 2020|title=Fossil evidence for a Cretaceous rise of the mahogany family|journal=American Journal of Botany|language=en|volume=107|issue=1|pages=139–147|doi=10.1002/ajb2.1416|pmid=31903551|issn=0002-9122|doi-access=free}}</ref>

[[File:Fruits of Chisocheton paniculatus.JPG|thumb|Fruits of ''[[Chisocheton cumingianus]]'']]

==Uses== {{Citation needed section|date=February 2024}} Various species are used for [[vegetable oil]], [[Soap|soap-making]], [[Insecticide|insecticides]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Oyedeji-Amusa |first1=Mariam Oyefunke |last2=Sadgrove |first2=Nicholas J. |last3=Van Wyk |first3=Ben-Erik |date=2021-08-28 |title=The Ethnobotany and Chemistry of South African Meliaceae: A Review |journal=Plants (Basel, Switzerland) |volume=10 |issue=9 |pages=1796 |doi=10.3390/plants10091796 |doi-access=free |issn=2223-7747 |pmc=8466584 |pmid=34579329 |bibcode=2021Plnts..10.1796O }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Melia azedarach - Useful Tropical Plants |url=https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=melia+azedarach |access-date=2025-11-20 |website=tropical.theferns.info}}</ref>, and highly prized wood (mahogany).

Some economically important genera and species belong to this family: *''[[Azadirachta indica]]'', neem tree (India) *''[[Carapa]]'': includes the "crabwood trees" ''e.g. Carapa procera'' (South America and Africa) *''[[Cedrela odorata]]'' Central and South America; timber also known as Spanish-cedar *''[[Entandrophragma]]'': includes [[sapele]] (''Entandrophragma cylindricum''), and "utile" or "sipo" (''[[Entandrophragma utile|E. utile]]'') of tropical Africa *''[[Guarea]]'', the genus of ''Bossé'' or "pink mahogany", includes: ''[[Guarea thompsonii|G. thompsonii]]'' and ''[[Guarea cedrata|G. cedrata]]'' (Africa) *''[[Khaya]]'' includes: [[Khaya ivorensis|Ivory Coast Mahogany]] and [[Khaya senegalensis|Senegal Mahogany]] (tropical Africa) *''[[Lansium domesticum]]'', lanzones, grown for its edible fruit in [[Southeast Asia]] *''[[Melia azedarach]]'', Chinaberry or white cedar ([[Indomalayan realm|Indomalaya]] and [[Australasian realm|Australasia]]) *''[[Sandoricum koetjape]]'', santol, grown for its edible fruit in [[Southeast Asia]] and [[South Asia]] *''[[Swietenia]]'' is the classic "mahogany" genus from the tropical [[Americas]] *''[[Toona]]'': the genus of "toon tree" species (tropical [[Asia]], [[Malesia]], and [[Australia]]), especially ''[[Toona ciliata]]''

== Genera == {{More citations needed section|date=February 2024}} 58 genera are currently accepted.<ref name = powo>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30001419-2 ''Meliaceae'' Juss.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212210603/https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30001419-2 |date=2023-12-12 }} ''[[Plants of the World Online]]''. Retrieved 9 February 2024.</ref> [[Image:Aglaiaodorata1web.jpg|right|thumb|Chinese rice flower (''[[Aglaia odorata]]'')]]

The family is divided into two subfamilies, Cedreloideae and Melioideae, which are supported by phylogenetic evidence.<ref name = Holzmeyer>Holzmeyer, L., Hauenschild, F., Mabberley, D.J. and Muellner-Riehl, A.N. (2021), Confirmed polyphyly, generic recircumscription and typification of Dysoxylum (Meliaceae), with revised disposition of currently accepted species. ''Taxon'', 70: 1248-1272. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.12591</ref>

=== Subfamily Cedreloideae === This is also known as subfamily Swietenioideae.<ref name = "GDR08">{{cite journal|title=Floral Development in the Tribe Cedreleae (Meliaceae, Sub-family Swietenioideae): ''Cedrela'' and ''Toona''.|vauthors=Gouvea CF, Dornelas MC, Rodriguez AP |journal=Annals of Botany |volume=101 |issue=1 |pages=39–48|year= 2008|doi=10.1093/aob/mcm279|pmid=17981877|pmc=2701842}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APWeb/genera/meliaceaegen.html| title = Missouri Botanic Garden: list of Meliaceae genera (retrieved 18 January 2018)| access-date = 18 January 2018| archive-date = 29 November 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221129233741/http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/genera/meliaceaegen.html| url-status = live}}</ref>

{{Columns-list| tribe '''Cedreleae'''<ref name = "GDR08"/> *''[[Cedrela]]'' {{small|P.Browne}} – Americas *''[[Toona]]'' {{small|M.Roem.}} - Asia other tribes and genera: *''[[Capuronianthus]]'' {{small|J.-F.Leroy}} *''[[Carapa]]'' {{small|Aubl.}} *''[[Chukrasia]]'' {{small|A.Juss.}} *''[[Entandrophragma]]'' {{small|C.DC.}} *''[[Khaya]]'' {{small|A.Juss.}} *''[[Lovoa]]'' {{small|Harms}} *''[[Neobeguea]]'' {{small|J.-F.Leroy}} *''[[Pseudocedrela]]'' {{small|Harms}} *''[[Schmardaea]]'' {{small|H.Karst.}} *''[[Soymida]]'' {{small|A.Juss.}} *''[[Swietenia]]'' {{small|Jacq.}} *''[[Xylocarpus]]'' {{small|J.Koenig}} }}

=== Subfamily Melioideae === {{Columns-list| tribe: '''Aglaieae''' *''[[Aglaia (plant)|Aglaia]]'' {{small|Lour.}} *''[[Lansium]]'' {{small|Corrêa}} *''[[Reinwardtiodendron]]'' {{small|Koord.}} - related genera: *''[[Chisocheton]]'' {{small|Blume}} *''[[Didymocheton]]'' {{small|Blume}} *''[[Dysoxylum]]'' {{small|Blume ex Raspail}} *''[[Epicharis (plant)|Epicharis]]'' {{small|Blume}} *''[[Goniocheton]]'' {{small|Blume}} *''[[Prasoxylon]]'' {{small|M.Roem.}} *''[[Pseudocarapa]]'' {{small|Hemsl.}} *''[[Sphaerosacme]]'' {{small| Wall. ex M.Roem.}} tribe: '''Guareeae'''<ref>{{cite web| url = http://edepot.wur.nl/189376| title = Koenen E (2011) Phylogenetic and biogeographic studies in Guareeae (Meliaceae: Melioideae) - (retrieved 18 January 2018)| access-date = 18 January 2018| archive-date = 6 April 2023| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230406074922/https://edepot.wur.nl/189376| url-status = live}}</ref> - Africa *''[[Guarea]]'' {{small|Allemão ex L.}} *''[[Heckeldora]]'' {{small|Pierre}} *''[[Leplaea]]'' {{small|Vermoesen}} *''[[Neoguarea]]'' {{small|(Harms) E.J.M.Koenen & J.J.de Wilde}} *''[[Ruagea]]'' {{small|H.Karst.}} *''[[Turraeanthus]]'' {{small|Baill.}} tribe: '''Melieae''' *''[[Melia (plant)|Melia]]'' {{small|L.}} *''[[Azadirachta]]'' {{small|A.Juss.}} <ref>Koenen E (2011) ''ibid.''</ref> tribe: '''Sandoriceae''' *''[[Sandoricum]]'' {{small|Cav.}} tribe: '''Turraeeae''' *''[[Calodecaryia]]'' {{small|Leroy}} *''[[Humbertioturraea]]'' {{small|J.-F.Leroy}} *''[[Munronia]]'' {{small|Wight}} *''[[Naregamia]]'' {{small|Wight & Arn.}} *''[[Nymania]]'' {{small|Lindb.}} *''[[Turraea]]'' {{small|L.}} - related genera: *''[[Anthocarapa]]'' {{small|Pierre}} tribe: '''Trichilieae''' *''[[Astrotrichilia]]'' {{small|(Harms) T.D.Penn. & Styles}} *''[[Cipadessa]]'' {{small|Blume}} *''[[Ekebergia]]'' {{small|Sparrm.}} *''[[Heynea]]'' {{small|Roxb.}} *''[[Lepidotrichilia]]'' {{small|(Harms) T.D.Penn. & Styles}} *''[[Malleastrum]]'' {{small|(Baill.) J.-F.Leroy}} *''[[Owenia (plant)|Owenia]]'' {{small|F.Muell.}} *''[[Pseudobersama]]'' {{small|Verdc.}} *''[[Pseudoclausena]]'' {{small|T.Clark}} *''[[Pterorhachis]]'' {{small|Harms}} *''[[Trichilia]]'' {{small|P.Browne}} *''[[Walsura]]'' {{small|Roxb.}} - related genera: *''[[Quivisianthe]]'' {{small|Baill.}} tribe: '''Vavaeeae''' *''[[Vavaea]]'' {{small|Benth.}} tribe unassigned: *''[[Aphanamixis]]'' {{small|Blume}} *''[[Cabralea]]'' {{small|A.Juss.}} *''[[Synoum]]'' {{small|A.Juss.}} }}

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==References== * {{aut|Pennington, T.D. & Styles, B.T.}} (1975): A generic monograph of the Meliaceae. ''Blumea'' '''22''': 419–540.

==External links== {{Commons category|Meliaceae}} * [http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/meliacea.htm Meliaceae] in [https://web.archive.org/web/20070103200438/http://delta-intkey.com/angio/ L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.] * [https://archive.today/20070929163235/http://www.mahoganyforthefuture.org/projectmeliaceae/ Project Meliaceae]

[[Category:Meliaceae| ]] [[Category:Sapindales families]]