Olacaceae

plant family

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The Olacaceae is a family of tropical trees and shrubs belonging to the order Santalales. These plants are characterized by simple leaves and small flowers, which develop into a one-celled ovary and a single-seeded fruit. The genus Olax is the type genus for this family and includes evergreen trees and shrubs found in tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Australia. These plants have distichous leaves and small flowers arranged in racemes. The name Olax itself comes from the Latin word for odorous, referring to the unpleasant smell of the wood.12

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Santalales
Families
The taxonomically contentious Olacaceae is another tropical woody family, with 14 to 30 genera and about 100 to 165 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas. Although many members may not appear parasitic (they are considered hemiparasites), they have haustorial connections to their hosts. Members of Olacaceae produce rather…
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The taxonomically contentious Olacaceae is another tropical woody family, with 14 to 30 genera and about 100 to 165 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas. Although many members may not appear parasitic (they are considered hemiparasites), they have haustorial connections to their hosts. Members of Olacaceae produce rather…
Read More