The Rutaceae are characterized by:

• Habit:  herbs, shrubs, or trees
• Leaves:  alternate (rarely opposite); simple to pinnate; punctate oil glands and strongly scented; no stipules
• Plants:  synoecious (rarely polygamous or dioecious)
• Inflorescence:  various, corymbiform or paniculiform
• Flowers:  perfect (rarely imperfect), usually symmetrical, nectary disk present
• Perianth:  4-5 (2-3) sepals, connate; 4-5 (2-3) petals, distinct (connate)
• Stamens:  4-10 (rarely 15-many), distinct
• Ovary:  2-5 carpellate (1-many), connate; superior; 2-5 (1-many) locules and 1-many axile ovules per locule; style 1
• Fruit:  capsule, drupe, berry, hesperidium, samara, schizocarp, cluster of follicles