Rutaceae

Taxonomy

Family name: Rutaceae Jussieu

Synonym(s): Amyridaceae Kunth; Aurantiaceae Juss.; Boroniaceae J. Agardh; Cneoraceae Vest, nom. cons.; Correaceae J. Agardh, nom. inval.; Cuspariaceae Tratt., nom. illeg.; Dictamnaceae Vest; Diosmaceae R. Br. ex Bartl.; Diplolaenaceae J. Agardh; Flindersiaceae C. T. White ex Airy Shaw; Fraxinellaceae Nees & Mart., nom. illeg.; Pilocarpaceae J. Agardh; Ptaeroxylaceae J.-F. Leroy; Pteleaceae Kunth; Zanthoxylaceae Martinov

Common name(s): rue or citrus family

*Number of genera/species: 176/2,070

List of genera records in GRIN-Global

Disseminule

fruit, fruit segment, or seed

Description

Fruit indehiscentindehiscent:
not opening on its own, as in a fruit
berryberry:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa.
(hesperidium), drupedrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
, or samarasamara:
a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s)
, dehiscentdehiscent:
(v. dehisce) splitting open at maturity to release contents (of a fruit)
loculicidal capsulecapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
, rarely septicidalsepticidal:
type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally by separating between the septa of adjacent carpels
, folliclefollicle:
a dry to (rarely) fleshy fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along a single longitudinal suture; the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa
(1–5 distinct or basally connate), or schizocarpschizocarp:
fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp)
splitting into drupeletsdrupelet:
one drupe of a fruit with multiple drupes, as in blackberries
, samarassamara:
a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s)
, or follicle-like fruits, 2.5–150 mm long, globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to angularangular:
2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles
, tereteterete:
approximately circular in cross section; width and thickness approximately equal
or flattened in transectiontransection:
a cross section; representing a plane made by cutting across an organ at a right angle to its length
, often with stylar beakbeak:
a usually firm, terminal appendage, sometimes tapered
(Toddalioideae), sometimes winged (broad encompassing wing, winged at both ends, or terminal wing), 1- to many-seeded. Pericarppericarp:
fruit wall or fruit coat
blue, black, purple, green, red, orange, yellow, or cream, in berriesberry:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa.
pulp color may differ from epicarpepicarp:
outer layer of fruit wall or pericarp, if divided into layers; note here used synonymously with exocarp
, texture variable, see below, glabrousglabrous:
without hairs
or pubescentpubescent:
surface relief—bearing hairs
, smooth or gland-dotted, groovedgrooved:
surface relief—linear depressions that may be single or form a series of grooves over the surface
, keeledkeel:
a longitudinal ridge, like the keel of a boat, formed by the lengthwise folding of a structure, such as a lemma or palea
, ribbedribbed:
surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface
, wartywarty:
surface relief—distinct, rounded projections that are large relative to the fruit size; tuberculate, verrucose
(small to large warts), wrinkledwrinkled:
surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out
, pittedpitted:
surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net
, punctatepunctate:
surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted
, or with hornshorn:
a straight or curved, slenderly conic or conoidal protrusion, resembling an animal horn
or prickles. Seeds sometimes explosively ejected.

Fruit type by subfamily

Aurantioideae: BerriesBerry:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa.
, dry or fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
with thickthick:
having or being of relatively great depth
and hard or thinthin:
having or being of relatively little depth
and leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
epicarpepicarp:
outer layer of fruit wall or pericarp, if divided into layers; note here used synonymously with exocarp
. The mesocarpmesocarp:
the middle layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
is often differentiated into layers, which may be woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
, fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
, or mucilaginousmucilaginous:
resembling mucilage; moist and sticky
. The endocarpendocarp:
the inner layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
is membranousmembranous:
texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
, hard and woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
, or soft or pulpy fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
, sometimes becoming hard when dry. All fruits have a mucilaginousmucilaginous:
resembling mucilage; moist and sticky
pulp surrounding seeds. In Citrus, the exocarpexocarp:
outer layer of fruit wall or pericarp, if divided into layers; note here used synonymously with epicarp
is thinthin:
having or being of relatively little depth
and waxy. The mesocarpmesocarp:
the middle layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
is often differentiated into three layers. The outermost layer is leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
with, often sunken, oil glands. The middle layer is thickthick:
having or being of relatively great depth
and spongyspongy:
soft, light, discontinuous but cohesive, and somewhat resilient
, and the inner layer is white. Sometimes the mesocarpmesocarp:
the middle layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
is woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
. The endocarpendocarp:
the inner layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
is membranousmembranous:
texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
and pulpy and/or resinous or gum-like.

Flindersioideae: Woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
capsulescapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
.

Rutoideae: Thick-skinned and dry capsulescapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
or schizocarpsschizocarp:
fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp)
or thick-skinned and fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
berriesberry:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa.
.

Spathelioideae: Dry capsulescapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
and folliclesfollicle:
a dry to (rarely) fleshy fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along a single longitudinal suture; the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa
or fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
drupesdrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
or drupeletsdrupelet:
one drupe of a fruit with multiple drupes, as in blackberries
.

Toddalioideae: BerriesBerry:
an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa.
, drupesdrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
, capsulescapsule:
a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels
, samarassamara:
a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s)
, folliclesfollicle:
a dry to (rarely) fleshy fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along a single longitudinal suture; the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa
, or schizocarpsschizocarp:
fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp)
of drupesdrupe:
(indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds
or follicle-like fruits. The epicarpepicarp:
outer layer of fruit wall or pericarp, if divided into layers; note here used synonymously with exocarp
in these may be dry, leatheryleathery:
texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable
, fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
, woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
, or membranousmembranous:
texture—extremely thin, pliable, and fairly tough
, mesocarpmesocarp:
the middle layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
fleshyfleshy:
texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut
or woodywoody:
texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood
, and endocarpendocarp:
the inner layer of the pericarp, if divided into layers
often cartilaginouscartilaginous:
texture—firm, dense, tough, somewhat pliable, and resilient, like cartilage
or undifferentiated.

Seed globoseglobose:
3D shape—more or less spherical
to irregular, sometimes with fold between cotyledons and hypocotyl-radicle or notched, rapheraphe:
a ridge or seam on the seed coat, formed by the portion of the funiculus united to the ovule wall in longitudinally curved ovules
sometimes conspicuous, compressedcompressed:
flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally
or flattened, 1.5–60 mm long. Apically and/or dorsally winged (Flindersioideae, Spathelioideae, some genera in Toddalioideae). ArilIdentification features

Fruit
Type	berry berry: an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa. (hesperidium), drupedrupe: (indehiscent drupe) a fleshy, indehiscent fruit with one more hard pits enclosing seeds; (dehiscent drupe) a fruit with a dry or fibrous to fleshy or leathery outer husk that early to tardily breaks apart (or opens), exposing one or more nutlike pits enclosing the seeds , samarasamara: a winged, indehiscent, dry fruit containing a single (rarely two) seed(s) , loculicidalloculicidal: type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally through the locules (compare septicidal) capsulecapsule: a dry, dehiscent fruit formed by two or more carpels , rarely septicidalsepticidal: type of capsular dehiscence, opening longitudinally by separating between the septa of adjacent carpels , folliclefollicle: a dry to (rarely) fleshy fruit derived from a single carpel that opens along a single longitudinal suture; the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa , or schizocarpschizocarp: fruit formed from a single ovary, with fused carpels, with or without accessory tissue; splitting between locules to form distinct, indehiscent, usually one seeded segments; usually dry, rarely fleshy (compare mericarp) splitting into drupeletsdrupelet: one drupe of a fruit with multiple drupes, as in blackberries or follicle-like fruits
Size range	2.5–150 mm long
Shape(s)	globose, ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , oblongoblong: 2D shape—much longer than broad with nearly parallel sides, corners are rounded , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , cylindriccylindrical: 3D shape—a cylinder, with parallel sides and a circular cross-section; tubular or rod-shaped , angularangular: 2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles (pentagonous, cuboidal, quadrangularquadrangular: 2D shape—four-sided, as in a square or rectangle ), pyriform, rarely lobed, reniformreniform: 2D or 3D shape—kidney-shaped , lunate or mitriform
Texture	leathery, woodywoody: texture—consisting mainly of indurate lignified tissues, characteristic of or resembling wood , fleshyfleshy: texture—fairly firm and dense, juicy or at least moist, and easily cut , chartaceouschartaceous: =papery, papyraceous , membranous
Surface relief	smooth, gland-dotted, groovedgrooved: surface relief—linear depressions that may be single or form a series of grooves over the surface , keeledkeel: a longitudinal ridge, like the keel of a boat, formed by the lengthwise folding of a structure, such as a lemma or palea , ribbedribbed: surface relief—wide, prominent, linear ridges that are generally rounded and longitudinally situated on the surface , wartywarty: surface relief—distinct, rounded projections that are large relative to the fruit size; tuberculate, verrucose (small to large warts), wrinkledwrinkled: surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out , pittedpitted: surface relief—surface with small depressions in which the areas between the hollows do not take on the appearance of a true reticular net , punctatepunctate: surface relief—dotted with pits or with translucent, sunken glands or with colored dots, similar to pitted , with hornshorn: a straight or curved, slenderly conic or conoidal protrusion, resembling an animal horn or prickles
Color(s)	blue, black, purple, green, red, orange, yellow, cream
Unique features	Fruits highly variable. Brightly colored berriesberry: an indehiscent, fleshy fruit with one or a few to many seeds. The flesh may be homogenous throughout. Or, if the outer part is hard, firm, or leathery, referred to as an hesperidium. Septa are present in some, and the seeds may be arillate or with a fleshy testa. with leatheryleathery: texture—moderately thick, tough, and very pliable rinds dotted with sunken oil glands and compressedcompressed: flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally or flattened mucilaginousmucilaginous: resembling mucilage; moist and sticky seeds embedded in pulpy or resinous gummy-pulp are often encountered.
Seed
Size range	1.5–60 mm long
Shape(s)	globose, hemisphericalhemispherical: 2D shape—shaped like half a sphere , ellipsoidellipsoid: 3D shape—elliptic , lens-shapedlens-shaped: 2D shape—round and flattened with two curved (convex) surfaces , ovoidovoid: 3D shape—ovate , pyriform, conicalconical: 3D shape—cone-shaped, with the point of attachment at the broad end , wedge-shapedwedge-shaped: 2D shape—triangular and tapering to a point at the base , tear-shaped, cuboidal, angledangular: 2D shape—having sides that meet at acute or obtuse angles , reniformreniform: 2D or 3D shape—kidney-shaped , irregular, U-shaped (Cneoridium)
Surface relief	smooth, groovedgrooved: surface relief—linear depressions that may be single or form a series of grooves over the surface , ridgedridged: surface relief—raised, thick ridges, sharp edged or rounded, usually in a series that may cover the entire surface , wrinkledwrinkled: surface relief—shallow, irregular folds and furrows covering the surface; appearing overall though crumpled and then spread out , wartywarty: surface relief—distinct, rounded projections that are large relative to the fruit size; tuberculate, verrucose , granulargranular: surface relief—having a grainy surface , reticulatereticulate: surface relief—netted, raised walls or concave grooves forming a net-like surface pattern with flat, concave, or convex interspaces , alveolatealveolate: surface relief—reticulated, honeycombed; ridges that intersect to form polygonal cells with a regular size and shape similar to a honeycomb , bubbled, papillate
Color(s)	black, bluish black, purplish, brown, gray, green, red, yellow, white, sometimes spotted or mottled
Unique features	Seeds often compressedcompressed: flattened; in grasses, used to denote compression (not necessarily flattened) either laterally or dorsiventrally or flattened with large, variously shaped hilahilum: on seeds, the scar indicating where the funiculus was attached; on grass caryopses, the scar visible on the outer fruit surface revealing where the seed is attached on the inner fruit wall surface; or in Asteraceae cypselae, the scar visible on the outer fruit wall revealing where the fruit was attached to the receptacle and well developed, large, sometimes green embryos with thinthin: having or being of relatively little depth to thickthick: having or being of relatively great depth , flat and folded cotyledons, often embedded in endospermendosperm: nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds . In some genera, more than one embryo per seed.
Other
Embryo	well developed, completely to nearly completely filling seed coat, sometimes more than one per seed, relatively large, sometimes green, axileaxile: on or of the axis and centric, rarely peripheralperipheral: (of embryo) embryo is curved around the outer edge of the seed, near the seed coat (Cneoridium), foliatefoliate: appearing leaf-like , linearlinear: (shape) long, narrow, and uniform in width; (of embryo) embryo is straight and much longer than wide , or ellipticelliptic: 2D shape—oval, oblong-like with the 2 ends narrowing and more or less alike , straight or curvedcurved: (of embryo) linear embryo is curved into an arch or horseshoe with the ends far apart , with spatulatespatulate: 2D shape—like a spatula; rounded at the apex, with base long and tapered; (of embryo) embryo is straight and axile and centric with the cotyledons expanded to form the shape of a spatula or spoon; (of cotyledons) cotyledons expanded and wider than the stalk but not invested into the stalk or investinginvesting: (of embryo) embryo is nearly or completely filling seed coat, straight, and axile and centric with spatulate cotyledons and covering the stalk for at least half its length; (of cotyledons) cotyledons spatulate and covering the stalk for at least half its length cotyledons. Cotyledons thinthin: having or being of relatively little depth to thickthick: having or being of relatively great depth , flat and folded.
Nutritive tissuenutritive tissue: tissue within the seeds that nourishes the developing embryo; such as endosperm, perisperm, or chalazosperm in angiosperms; megagametophyte in gymnosperms	endosperm endosperm: nutritive starch- and oil-containing tissue present in many seeds copious, scanty, or absent, if copious, fleshy-soft or -hard, smooth

Distribution

Pantropical, also subtropical and warmer temperate regions.

Distribution map courtesy of Angiosperm Phylogeny Website.

References

Appelhans et al. 2021; Bayly et al. 2013; Cao et al. 2016; Choi et al. 2012; Duretto 1997; Duretto 2018; Flora of Australia 2021+; George 1971; Hartley 1977; Hartley 1986; Kirkbride et al. 2006; Kubitzki et al. 1990+; Meissner and Markey 2007; Mollemans 1993; Shelton and Thiele 2022; Takhtajan 2009; Wilson 1971; Zhengyi et al. 2004+

*The number of genera and species is based on Christenhusz and Byng 2016, which may differ from the number of genera in GRIN-Global.