Vochysiaceae

Vochysiaceae is a plant family belonging to the order of Myrtales. Trees or shrubs with opposite leaves; flowers are zygomorph 1-(3)-5 merous; ovary inferior or superior; one fertile stamen; fruits samara or capsules. Six of the eight genera are native to the Neotropics. The genera Erismadelphus and Korupodendron are native to West and Central Africa. The family likely originated in South America. Erismadelphus is thought to have diverged from Erisma approximately 30 million years ago, and traveled to Africa as the result of long-distance dispersal. Vochysiaceae are closest to Myrtaceae. Vochysiaceae consist of 7 genera with 217 species. The family is classified in two tribes: