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Trees, shrubs, liana or some very rare herbaceous plants are members of this family. They can be epiphytes or spiny. All the buds are well protected at the base by stipules or by scale leaves. Secretory canals are also present in many organs and the plants usually have a very strong smell. 

The leaves are helically arranged but very rarely are they found opposite each other. These are simple, lobed or pinnate. 

Inflorescence is usually lateral, terminal, umbelliferate or paniculate and are formed by racemes, umbels and capitula. Bracts may be present or absent. The flowers are hermaphroditic or polygamous and the calyx is small or absent. The number of petals varies from three to numerous and show either valvate or imbricate pattern. These occur freely and have cataphylls accompanying them. 

The number of stamens occur in the same number as the petals or can be of a larger number. The anthers are usually longitudinally split while the ovary may be inferior, semi-inferior but very rarely superior. The number of chambers in an ovary ranges from one to many. The styles emerging from the ovary are free or partially free and exist in the same number as the ovarian chambers. 

The ovules are solitary and anatropous. The fruits are in the form of drupes, with a rather fleshy exocarp, while the endocarp is folded into crests and grooves. Only one grain occur per groove and the embryo is quite small. 

Among the Araliaceae family one genus is found at Mondrain and is the Polyscias genus.   

Polyscias    

The genus Polyscias has some hundred of species with two endemics found at Mondrain and these are: Polyscias dichroostachya and Polyscias gracilis. 

Members of the Polyscias genus are trees or shrubs that bear leaves pinnately, but very rarely in a unifoliate fashion. Stipules may be present as well as absent. 

Inflorescence is lateral, corymbform or umbelliform, grouping racemes, umbels and capitula. The flowers are hermaphroditic and pedicellate. The calyx may be entire or undulated. The number of petals, 5 to 15, are valvate, free or an epipetalous situation can also be observed, and they are arranged in such a way that they form a hood-like structure. 

The stamens occur more or less or in the same number as the petals. The ovary is inferior with 2 to 12 chambers and styles. The fruits exist in the form of drupes or berries.