The Celastraceae (syn. Brexiaceae, Canotiaceae, Chingithamnaceae, Euonymaceae, Parnassiaceae, Siphonodontaceae, and Stackhousiaceae), are a family (the staff vine or bittersweet family) of 96 genera and 1,350 species[3] of herbs, vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the order Celastrales. The great majority of the genera are tropical, with only Celastrus (the staff vines), Euonymus (the spindles) and Maytenus widespread in temperate climates, and Parnassia (bog-stars) found in alpine and arctic climates.
The roughly 100 genera include (with common names of some members):
- Canotia – crucifixion thorn
- Catha – khat
- Celastrus – staff vine or staff tree
- Euonymus – spindle
- Maytenus – maiten
Leaves of Loeseneriella africana
Inflorescence of Gymnosporia senegalensis
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