Rutaceae

Family of plants, consisting of 1,700 species of shrubs and trees in about 160 genera. Species in this family are most abundant in tropical areas. Their leaves are commonly evergreen and leathery in texture, oily and aromatic when crushed. Some species have thorns. The flowers usually have five or four sepals and petals, with stamens double the number of the petals. The fused carpels vary in number, and the fruit is of variable type, sometimes dry as in rue, or a berry as in Skimmia. Probably the best-known members of the family are the citrus fruits.