Polygalaceae

=Family description=
 * Herbs, climbers, shrubs and trees**.
 * Leaves** usually alternate, spiral, simple, untoothed, often with scattered glands on lower surface. Stipules absent.
 * Inflorescence** usually racemose.
 * Flowers** bisexual, bilateral symmetric, 5-merous, ovary superior, 2-locular.
 * Fruits** irregular dehiscent berried to winged.

=General info=
 * Distribution** Worldwide, especially in the tropics, 950 species.
 * Ecology** in tropical forests usually present as small to large trees in closed forests, but some herbs prefer open habitats.
 * Uses** Timber, edible fruits and fragrant roots.
 * Similar to** Fabaceae but these have compound leaves and usually stipules, the ovaries are 1-locular. Trigoniaceae but these differ in more intense whitish lower leaf surfaces and 3-winged fruits.

=Treated genera=
 * Polygala
 * Xanthophyllum

Polygalaceae.pdf