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Celastraceae / botanical study

Celastraceae family

Staff-Tree Family

22 catalogue species · Order Celastrales

The Celastraceae family (Staff-Tree Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Celastrales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 22 species across 11 genera. Members range from trees to shrubs. Well-represented genera include Maytenus, Euonymus and Microtropis. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Ceylon Teak, Panicled Cassine and Arabian Tea.

Explore the species roster ↓

Field identification keys

Compare several features together. These are typical family patterns; individual species can vary. Observe without tasting or handling unfamiliar plants.

Stem cross-section
Round
Leaf type
Simple
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Fruit
Capsule
Distinctive marker
Flowers sit on a conspicuous fleshy disc; seeds wrapped in a bright, fleshy, bird-attracting aril.

Familiar members: Thorny Staff Tree · Malkangani · Ceylon Teak · Banati · Bhesa indica

Species in Celastraceae

22 of 22 species

Native status is regional. Range tags distinguish Kew WCVP dataset matches from individual reviews. Pet-filter records report no known toxicity to cats and dogs; some sources cover a genus or cultivar. Review the source context. Missing values are excluded, and no rating establishes suitability to eat or freedom from other hazards.

Celastraceae species, origin and reviewed pet status
Botanical nameCommon & regional namesOrigin & reviewed pet status
Maytenus emarginataThorny Staff Tree
  • సెలాస్ట్రేసి (te)
  • സെലാസ്ത്രേസീ (ml)
Native: India ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Gymnosporia emarginata. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: India, Sri Lanka, Pen. Malaysia.

Celastrus paniculatusMalkangani

Black oil plant / Climbing staff plant / Intellect plant

  • मालकंगनी · मालकांगनी (hi) · Malkangani, malakangani
  • खुजुर (ne) · Kujur
  • kijri, malkangani (bn)
+5 languages
  • குவரிகுண்டல் · மண்ணைக்கட்டி · வாலுளுவை (ta) · Kuvarikuntal, Mannai-k-katti, Valuluvai
  • కాసరతీగె · మానెరు · జ్యోతిష్మతి (te) · Kasara-tige, Maneru
  • ಭವಂಗಬೀಜ · ಕರಿಗನ್ನೆ · ಕರಿಗೊನ್ನೆ (kn) · Bhavanga Beeja, Kariganne, Karigonne
  • പൊലുലവമ് · കിളിതീനിപ്പഞ്ഞി (ml) · Polulavam
  • कांगुणी · माळकांगोणी · मालकांगोणी (mr) · Kanguni, Malkangoni
Native: Andaman Is., Assam, India, West Himalaya ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to S. China and Indo-China.

Cassine glaucaCeylon Teak
  • കരുവാളി (ml)
Not listed native: India ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Elaeodendron glaucum. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Sri Lanka. Not listed native does not establish introduction or absence from India.

Lophopetalum wightianumBanati

Spindle Tree

  • बनाती (hi) · banati, balpale
  • बलपले (ne) · balapale
  • காருக்கா · வெள்ள பலா · வெள்ளபோலம் (ta) · karukka, vella pala, vellapolam
+3 languages
  • ಬಲ್ಪಾಲೆ · ಬೆಲ್ಪಾಲೆ · ಬನಾಟೆ (kn) · balpaale, Belpaale, banaate
  • വെമ്പാല · വെണ്‍കടവം · വെങ്കൊട്ട (ml) · vembala, venkatavam, venkotta
  • बलफळे · बनाती (mr) · balphale, banati
Native: Assam, India ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Indian Subcontinent to W. Malesia.

Bhesa indicaBhesa indica
  • പെനലി (ml)
Native: India ↗︎
Kew dataset

Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India, Indo-China to Pen. Malaysia.

Euonymus indicusIndian Spindle Tree
    Native: Andaman Is., India, Nicobar Is. ↗︎
    Kew dataset

    Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Trop. Asia.

    Maytenus rothianaTandasa

    Deccan Spike Thorn

    • ತಂಡಸ · ತಂಡಸಿ (kn) · Tandasa, Tandasi
    • Lokhandi, Makar khana, Lechi (mr)
    Native: India ↗︎
    Kew dataset

    Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Gymnosporia rothiana. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India.

    Glyptopetalum lawsoniiKodikurunthu
    • Kodikurunthu (ta)
    Native: India ↗︎
    Kew dataset

    Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Glyptopetalum glaucum. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: S. India.

    Microtropis latifoliaBroadleaf Redberry Tree
      Native: India ↗︎
      Kew dataset

      Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India.

      Pleurostylia oppositaChiru Piyari

      Panakka Tree

      • Chiru Piyari, Karuvaali, Karuvali (ta)
      • പനക്ക · കരുവാളി (ml) · Karuvali, Panakka
      Native: Andaman Is., India, Laccadive Is. ↗︎
      Kew dataset

      Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: E. Mozambique, W. Indian Ocean, Hainan, Trop. Asia to New Caledonia, N. & SE. Queensland.

      Microtropis wallichianaDeccan Redberry Tree
        Native: India ↗︎
        Kew dataset

        Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India, Sri Lanka, N. Sumatera, N. Borneo.

        Cassine paniculataMotha Bhutya

        Panicled Cassine

        • തന്നീമരമ് (ml) · Thannimaram
        • मोठा भुत्‍या (mr) · Motha Bhutya
        Native: India ↗︎
        Kew dataset

        Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Elaeodendron paniculatum. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India, Sri Lanka.

        Gymnosporia montanaKattangi

        Confetti Spikethorn

        • kattangi (ta)
        • ತಂದ್ರಾಸಿ · ತಂಡರಸಿ (kn) · Tandrasi, Tandarasi, kankada
        Native: India ↗︎
        Kew dataset

        Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: W. India, Bangladesh.

        Celastrus paniculatus subsp. aggregatusMalkangani

        Black oil plant / Climbing staff plant / Intellect plant

        • मालकंगनी · मालकांगनी (hi) · Malkangani, malakangani
        • खुजुर (ne) · Kujur
        • kijri, malkangani (bn)
        +5 languages
        • குவரிகுண்டல் · மண்ணைக்கட்டி · வாலுளுவை (ta) · Kuvarikuntal, Mannai-k-katti, Valuluvai
        • కాసరతీగె · మానెరు · జ్యోతిష్మతి (te) · Kasara-tige, Maneru
        • ಭವಂಗಬೀಜ · ಕರಿಗನ್ನೆ · ಕರಿಗೊನ್ನೆ (kn) · Bhavanga Beeja, Kariganne, Karigonne
        • പൊലുലവമ് · കിളിതീനിപ്പഞ്ഞി (ml) · Polulavam
        • कांगुणी · माळकांगोणी (mr) · Kanguni, Malkangoni
        Native: India ↗︎
        Kew dataset

        Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India.

        Catha edulisQat

        Arabian Tea

        • قات (ur) · Qat
        Not listed native: India ↗︎
        Kew dataset

        Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Eritrea to S. Africa. Not listed native does not establish introduction or absence from India.

        Euonymus japonicusJapanese Spindle Tree
          Introduced: India ↗︎
          Kew dataset

          Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Korea, Japan to Nansei-shotō.

          Maytenus puberulaKonkan Spike Thorn
            Native: India ↗︎
            Kew dataset

            Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Gymnosporia puberula. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: W. India.

            Microtropis stocksiiMicrotropis stocksii
              Native: India ↗︎
              Kew dataset

              Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: S. India.

              Glyptopetalum grandiflorumGlyptopetalum grandiflorum
                Native: India ↗︎
                Kew dataset

                Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India, Sri Lanka.

                Maytenus heyneanaMaytenus heyneana
                  Native: India ↗︎
                  Kew dataset

                  Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Gymnosporia heyneana. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: S. India.

                  Euonymus crenulatusEuonymus crenulatus
                    Native: India ↗︎
                    Kew dataset

                    Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India.

                    Maytenus ovataMaytenus ovata
                      Native: India ↗︎
                      Kew dataset

                      Kew WCVP dataset; listed synonym of Gymnosporia ovalifolia. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: SW. India.

                      Key pattern

                      Simple, usually toothed leaves on woody climbers, shrubs, or trees; small inconspicuous flowers sit on a fleshy nectar disc and ripen into a capsule that splits open to reveal seeds wrapped in a bright, fleshy aril.

                      The brightly coloured aril around each seed — often orange or red against a split pink or orange capsule — is the family's most eye-catching field mark, evolved to attract seed-dispersing birds.

                      Identify the species

                      Which Celastraceae species is this?

                      Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Celastraceae species.

                      Family identification method

                      To check whether a plant belongs to Celastraceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.

                      Learn the full family-identification method

                      Typical leaf characters

                      Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.

                      Typical flower & fruit

                      Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

                      Families that can look similar

                      Euphorbiaceae

                      Compare against Euphorbiaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

                      Compare Euphorbiaceae

                      Capparaceae

                      Compare against Capparaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

                      Compare Capparaceae

                      Aizoaceae

                      Compare against Aizoaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

                      Compare Aizoaceae

                      Brassicaceae

                      Compare against Brassicaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

                      Compare Brassicaceae

                      Meet Celastraceae in the field

                      Point your camera, explore possible matches and compare the field marks. Identification runs on your phone, offline and private.

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