Combretaceae

COMBRETACEAE
SELVAM G IM.sc BOTANY,
BHARATHIDASAN
UNIVERSITY
TRICHY,TAMILNADU

SYSTEMATIC POSSITION
 Kingdom : Plantae
 Division : Angiospermae
 Class : Dicotyledons
 Sub class : Polypetalae
 Order : Myrtales
 Family :Combretaceae – Indian
Almond family

Distribution of Combretaceae
 The Combretaceae are a family of flowering plants in the
order Myrtales.
 The family includes about 530 species of trees, shrubs, and
lianas in 10 genera.
 The family includes the leadwood tree, Combretum imberbe.
 The Combretaceae are widespread in the subtropics and
tropics.
 Some members of this family produce useful construction
timber, such as idigbo from Terminalia ivorensis.
 The commonly cultivated Quisqualis indica is now placed in
the genus Combretum.

Characters of Combretaceae
 Flower pentamerous
 sepals 4-5, valvate
 petals, small sometimes absent
 stamens 10 in two series
 Carpel one, inferior, unilocular
 fruit 2-5 angled.

Vegetative characters
 Habit: Mainly trees of
shrubs, sometimes sub-
scandent.
 Root: Tap, deep and
branched.
 Stem: Erect, hard and
woody or sometimes weak
and sub-scandent.
 Leaf: Simple, entire,
alternate or opposite,

Floral characters
 Inflorescence: Racemose, paniculate
or spicate.

 Flower: Actinomorphic rarely
zygomorphic, hermaphrodite sometimes
unisexual by abortion, epigynous; floral
axis is carried above the ovary forming a
tube.

 Calyx: Sepals 4-5, rarely more, united
to form a calyx tube adnate to ovary ;
valvate, persistent.
 Corolla: Petals are usually small, as
many as sepals and alternating with
them, either valvate or imbricate in
aestivation, sometimes absent,
polypetalous.

 Androecium: Stamens 4, 5, 8 or 10,
rarely many, , in two whorls (when 8 or
10), filaments are curved inwards in
bud, anthers bithecal, versatile;
stamens when in two whorls, often
obdiplostemonous.

Gynoecium
 Monocarpellary; ovary inferior, 1-celled,
generally angled, the angles equal in
number and alternating with calyx-
segments.
 ovules 2-5, rarely more, anatropous,
pendulous from the top of the ovary on
long, often united funicles.
 style one, long, filiform bearing a pointed,
rarely a capitate stigma.

 Fruit: Leathery, one seeded drupe having
angled or winged pericarp.
 Seed: Non-endospermic; spirally twisted
cotyledens.
 Pollination: Entomophilous.

Combretum indicum (Rangoon-Creeper)

SYSTEMATIC POSSITION
 Kingdom : Plantae
 Division : Angiospermae
 Class : Dicotyledons
 Sub class : Polypetalae
 Order : Myrtales
 Family :Combretaceae – Indian
Almond family
 Genus :Combritum
 Species :indicum

Vegetative characters
 Habit: A creeping sub-scadent shrub,
commonly planted in the gardens.
 Root: Tap-root.
 Stem: Weak, sub-scadent.
 Leaf: Opposite, superposed, simple, ovate,
entire, exstipulate, unicostate reticulate.

Inflorescence
 Dense racemose clusters of sweet-
scented flowers.

 Flower: Bracteate, bisexual, regular,
epigynous, pentamerous.

 Calyx: Sepals 5, calyx-tube adnate to
the ovary, lobes reflexed. superior.

 Corolla: Petals 5, white at first,
turning pink, alternating with the
sepals, superior, imbricate in bud.

 Androecium: Stamens ten, free in
two whorls, the upper opposite the
petals and the lower opposite the
sepals, filaments long, anthers
dorsifixed, superior.

 Gynoecium: Monocarpellary, ovary 1-
celled, inferior, 5-angled, angles
alternating with calyx segments;
ovules pendulous from the top of the
ovary on long united funicles; style
one, long filiform; stigma minute,
capitate.

 Fruit: Five-angled, one-seeded
achene.

 Seed: Small, non-endospermic.

Economic Importance of
Combretaceae
 1. Food:
The fruits of Terminalia catappa –
Indian almond H. Jungali badam are
edible.
 2. Medicinal:
Terminalia is the most important
medicinal plant. The bark of Terminalia
arjuna is used as cardiac tonic.

 3. Gum:
The fruits of T. bellirica constitute one of
the myrobalans (an adhesive) of
commerce.
The gum exuding from the trunk of
Anogeissus latifolia is used in cali
coprinting, paper-sizing and
confectionery.
 4. Timber:
The wood obtained from T. bialata and T.
belerica is used for cabinet work furniture
and interior fittings.

 5. Tannin:
The young fruits of T. alata, T. arjuna,
T. chebule, etc. are used for tanning
and dyeing.
 6. Ornamental:
Quisqualis indica (Rangoon creeper),
Terminalia arjuna (Arjun), Bucida,
Combretum are of ornamental value.

Combretaceae

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Combretaceae