RUTACEAE The Citrus Family

 
 

The Rutaceae are characterized by:

 

  • transparent sunken glands (punctate glands or pellucid dots) in the leaves, aromatic
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  • lobed ovary on an elevated disk
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  • outer stamens usually opposite the petals
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The citrus family contains about 160 genera and 1600-1700 species.  Although world-wide in distribution, Rutaceae are most numerous in Australia and South Africa.  The family, as currently circumscribed, has great diversity in flowers and fruits.

The most important members of the family are citrus fruits, and of the approximately. 60 species of Citrus, most are cultivated.  These include the orange (Citrus sinensis), lemon (Citrus limon), lime (Citrus aurantiifolia), mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata), and grapefruit (Citrus X paradisi).  Of lesser importance are the kumquat (Fortunella spp.) and the sour orange (Citrus aurantium).  The family also includes a number of ornamentals, such as the cork tree (Phellodendron), dittany or gas plant (Dictamnus albus), hop tree (Ptelea triofoliata) and trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata).  Species are also grown for perfumes and colognes, notably the sour orange (Citrus aurantium), which produces bergomot oil from the fruits and neroli oil from the flowers.  Some Rutaceae have also been used as medicinals, including the highly poisonous rue (Ruta graveolens), which was once used to treat nausea, cramps, and hysteria.

 

 

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 Site created and maintained by Matthew Willmann and Melissa Luckow Cornell University, Ithaca, New York September 1998