Diversity: A family of 50 genera and over 1,200 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees with two subfamilies, the Clusioideae and Hypericoideae with the latter often treated as a distinct family (Hypericaceae).
Distribution: Broadly distributed but elements of the Hypericoideae more common North temperate areas and the typical subfamily - Clusioideae - centered in the tropics. Two genera, 22 species isn the Texas flora.
Floral structure:
Significant features: With very few exceptions plants of the Clusiaceae (s. lat.)
show opposite, simple, and entire leaves and the
numerous
stamens positioned in fascicles or
clusters.
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| Hypericum - with fascicled stamens | Hypericum - another species with similar androecium - from the University of Hawaii | Hypericum - opposite, entire and - in this case - sessile leave |
The mangosteen
(Garcinia
mangostana L.) shows a structure common to
taxa
of subfamily Clusioideae, an aril ("a pulpy or fleshy
appendage, outgrouth or outer covering of a seed - often derived from
the funiculus") which is the only part consumed in this "best of
tropical fruits".
More information on the Clusiaceae
(or Hypericaceae
or Guttiferae)