Thymelaeaceae

Daphne Family

By : George Rogers

A mid-sized worldwide family of about 45 genera and 450 species.  Plants usually woody, often shrubs or small trees having alternate or opposite, often clustered, simple leaves.  Flowers radially symmetrical, often in umbels or other crowded clusters, often unisexual, the floral tube ribbed; sepals and petals attached at the top of the floral tube.  Stamens equal to or twice as many as petals.  Nectary disc present. Ovary superior, with 1 chamber containing 1 ovule.  Fruit usually a drupe.  Toxic. A family not often encountered in horticulture.  Dirca palustri, Leatherwood,  is a widespread native shrub in the U.S., including the Florida Panhandle. (Family data mostly from SMI.)

Plants listed in the manual include:

Dais cotinifolia

Phaleria clerodendron