Celastraceae - Spike thorn family

Trees, shrubs or woody climbers, sometimes spiny. Stipules present or 0. Leaves simple, alternate, subopposite or opposite, sometimes fasciculate on short shoots, typically glabrous and coriaceous. Flowers bisexual, polygamous or unisexual, actinomorphic, in axillary and/or terminal cymes, panicles or thyrses, sometimes with accessory branches, sometimes fasciculate or solitary. Sepals and petals (3-)4-5(-6). Disk usually present. Ovary 2-5-locular, or 1-locular by abortion. Fruit a loculicidal capsule or composed of mericarps or baccate or drupaceous or dry and indehiscent. Seeds may be arillate or winged.

Worldwide: 88 genera and 1300 species, mainly tropical with some termperate.

Malawi: 9 genera and 24 taxa.