Margaritaria
anomala
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This large family includes some 300 genera and 5 000 species that are mostly distributed in the tropical regions although they can be found in temperate regions as well.
They are grasses, shrubs or trees, where milky latex may or may not be present. Stipules may be present but these are often deciduous or may be absent. The leaves are either alternate or are found to be helically arranged. Very rarely are the leaves oppositely arranged. They are simple in the indigenous genera of the Mascareignes, but can also be trifoliar or palmately lobed amongst the introduced species. Consequently the margins can be entire, dentate or lobes.
Flowers are actinomorphic, unisexual with both sexes being found in the same inflorescence, in separate ones or even on different plants. Inflorescence is found in panicules, corymbs, bunches or fascicules, but some solitary flowers exist as well or are grouped in caliciform involucres. The perianth is differentiated into sepals and petals but the perianth can be reduced to a very small size or can be absent as well. Furthermore, if the sepals can be clearly differentiated from the petals, then they are free, somewhat valvate or imbricate. The petals on the other hand are free.
Male flowers contain 1 to infinite number of stamens that can be free or fused and at times even the anthers may be wholly fused. Staminodia are often present in female flowers. The ovary is superior and is formed by 2 to 4 fused carpels. Dehiscence in fruits can occur in an explosive manner. The number of grains varies between 1 and 6 and the locules are bi-ovulated.
Margaritaria
These are shrubs or small dioecious trees that bear alternate or helically arranged leaves. They are simple and have entire margins. Male flowers have slender pedicels and they are either borne on axillary fascicules or in highly compact panicules. The number of sepals is 4 and they can be opposite each other or can be grouped in pairs, with one being internal as opposed to the other. There are 4 free stamens that have short filaments and anthers that are laterally split. Female flowers are axillary, pedicelate, and can be either solitary or are borne on fascicules. They too have 4 sepals like the male flowers, but petals and staminodia are absent.
The ovary is ovoid to globular with 2 to 3 locules. The styles are curved, bifid and with pointed lobes.