Botanical Family · Santalales

Olacaceae

Olax Family

4 speciesOrder Santalales3+ well-known plants

The Olacaceae family (Olax Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Santalales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 4 species across 3 genera. Members range from climbing shrubs to lianas. Well-represented genera include Olax, Erythropalum and Ximenia. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Redstake Climber, South Asian Olax and False Sandalwood.

Browse all 4 species ↓

Representative specimen · Olacaceae

Key pattern

Simple, alternate leaves on climbing shrubs, lianas, and trees, several partially parasitic on neighbouring roots; small flowers with a fused calyx ripen into a drupe often partly enclosed by a persistent, enlarged calyx cup.

Several genera are root-hemiparasites, tapping into a host plant's roots for water and minerals while still carrying out their own photosynthesis.

Identify the species

Which Olacaceae species is this?

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

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HabitWhat is the plant's growth habit?

Climbing vine

Shrub

Family identification method

To check whether a plant belongs to Olacaceae, 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

Notable members

Redstake ClimberErythropalum scandensSouth Asian OlaxOlax imbricataFalse SandalwoodXimenia americana

Families that can look similar

Loranthaceae

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

Compare Loranthaceae

Balanophoraceae

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

Compare Balanophoraceae

Santalaceae

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

Compare Santalaceae

Opiliaceae

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

Compare Opiliaceae

All 4 species in OLACACEAE

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