Putranjivaceae

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Putranjivaceae is a small family of evergreen tropical trees in the rosid group, belonging to the order Malpighiales. It contains two genera and about 218 species: Drypetes (around 214 species) and Putranjiva (about 4 species). These trees are mostly found in the Old World tropics, with a few species in tropical America.

The leaves are arranged in two rows (distichous) and are leathery (coriaceous). Fresh leaves often have a radish-like or peppery taste. Flowers are small and occur in clusters, and the fruits are single-seeded drupes crowned by persistent stigmas.

Putranjivaceae is believed to have originated in Africa and Malesia. It is notable for producing mustard oils, a trait unusual outside the Brassicales. Taxonomically, the family was once a tribe (Drypeteae) within the Euphorbiaceae (subfamily Phyllanthoideae). When Phyllanthoideae was separated to form the Phyllanthaceae, Drypeteae was elevated to its own family, Putranjivaceae.