Family Elaeocarpaceae in India: Census and observations
Murti, S.K.
Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 17(2): 283-296
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-9768 Document Number: 318097
Family Elaeocarpaceae is the most primitive member of the order Malvales. Earlier it was treated under the family Tiliaceae, but later workers preferred to keep it as a distinct family. In India, the family is represented by 2 genera and 34 taxa from wild. Another genus Muntingia L. is an exotic genus and found under cultivation only. The fact that all the 4 species and 1 variety of the genus Sloanea L. and 20 out of 29 species of Elaeocarpus L., occurring in India, are distributed in North-east region of India, indicates that North-east India shows maximum genetic diversity in this family. 6 species of Elaeocarpus L. are endemic to South India (Deccan plateau including Western Ghat). A census of all the species, distributed in India, with up to date nomenclature and observations on their distribution pattern, economic uses and abundance/rarity have been discussed in the paper.