Coco plum family
Chrysobalanaceae

Image: Wikimedia Commons (See link for license)

Coco plum family

Chrysobalanaceae

クリソバラヌス科

Share on X

A tropical family of about 18 genera and 530 species, including cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco), known as elephant food. Formerly placed within Rosaceae but recognized as an independent family through molecular phylogenetics. Mostly woody plants bearing drupes.

Key Characteristics

  • Woody plants (trees to shrubs) bearing drupes
  • Flowers pentamerous, often zygomorphic
  • Numerous stamens developing asymmetrically to one side
  • Leaves simple, alternate, entire-margined

Morphological Traits

A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.

Leaf arrangement

Alternate

Leaf type

Simple

Venation

Pinnate

Leaf margin

Entire

Growth form

Shrub / Tree

Evergreen/Deciduous

Deciduous

Leaf dissection

Undivided

Stipules

Present

Flower symmetry

Actinomorphic / Zygomorphic

Petal count

5 petals

Ovary position

Superior

Stamen count

5

Plant sex

Hermaphrodite / Monoecious

Phylogenetic Position

Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Rosales > Chrysobalanaceae

Divergence Era

Paleogene (approx. 55–50 million years ago)

Representative Genera

ココプラム属(Chrysobalanus)パリナリ属(Parinari)リカニア属(Licania)

Related Evolution Events

  • Separation from Rosaceae through molecular phylogenetic reassessment
  • Diversification of species dominant as tropical rainforest canopy trees
View on evolution timeline →

Plants in Coco plum family on this site

🌿 View in taxonomy
📚クリソバラヌス科の図鑑を探す

AI-generated, needs verification