Description:

• Shrubs or trees, sometimes subscandent, unarmed or with axillary spines; dioecious or polygamous; usually containing mustard oils
• Leaves opposite, simple, entire; stipules rudimentary or 0
• Inflorescence terminal and axillary, simple or paniculate
• Flowers regular, bisexual to unisexual
• Calyx campanulate, 4-lobed
• Corolla free or united; tube shorter than calyx; segments or lobes 4, imbricate
• Stamens 4, arising at base of corolla and united in a ring or on the tube, alternating with the lobes; anthers 2-locular, dehiscing longitudinally
• Disc 0, annular, or of separate glands between filaments at base of corolla
• Ovary superior, 1- or 2(3)-locular; style short to almost absent; stigma terminal; ovules 1 or 2 in each locule, basal, erect
• Fruit small, a drupe or berry
• Seed exalbuminous, with thick cotyledons

Nomenclature:

• Salvadoraceae
  • Verdoorn: 128 (1963)
  • Vickery: 375 (1983)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global: Genera 3, species ± 10, Africa, Mascarenes, Arabian Peninsula and Asia
• Southern Africa: Genera 2, species 3

References:

• VERDOORN, I.C. 1963. Salvadoraceae. Flora of southern Africa 26
• VICKERY, A.R. 1983. Salvadoraceae. Flora zambesiaca 7,1

Resources:

• Key to Salvadoraceae genera

• Salvadoraceae genera: