Anacardiaceae (mango, pepper tree, pistachio, cashew)

Anacardiaceae (Mango, Pepper tree, Pistachio, Cashew family)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Order: Sapindales

Genera native or naturalised to southern Africa

Information from Archer (2000)

* Anacardium (Cashew Nut genus) The 8 species are native to tropical America. The Cashew Nut Anacardium occidentale is grown in South Africa but has also become naturalised in parts of subtropical KwaZulu-Natal.
Harpephyllum There is only one species, Wild Plum Harpephyllum caffrum, endemic to southern Africa and grown widely in this region as a garden tree.
Heeria The only species, Heeria argentea is endemic to southern Africa, found mainly in the Western Cape.
Lannea About 40 species, native from Africa to India with 6 found in southern Africa.
Laurophyllus The only species, Laurophyllus capensis, is endemic to the Western and Eastern Cape.
Loxostylis The only species, Loxostylis alata, is endemic to southern Africa.
* Mangifera About 62 species, native to SE Asia. The Mango Mangifera indica is cultivated in southern Africa and has also become naturalised in some subtropical forests of KwaZulu-Natal.
Ozoroa About 40 species, native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, with about 20 species in southern Africa.
Protorhus About 20 species, native mainly to Madagascar but with 1 species, Protorhus longifolia, found in southern Africa.
Rhus About 200 species, native mainly to subtropical and tropical regions, with about 75 species found in southern Africa.
* Schinus (Pepper tree genus) About 25 species, native to South and Central America. Two species have become naturalised in southern Africa: the Pepper Tree Schinus molle and the Brazilian Pepper Tree Schinus terebinthifolius.
Sclerocarya The 2 species are native to Africa and Madagascar, with one of these, the Marula Sclerocarya birrea, occurring in southern Africa.
Smodingium The only species, the African Poison Oak Smodingium argutum, is native to southern Africa.

Economically important species

Anacardium occidentale (Cashew Nut)
Mangifera indica (Mango)
Schinus molle (Pepper Tree)
Pistacia vera (Pistachio Nut)

Garden ornamentals

Cotinus coggygria (Smoke Tree)

Publications

Archer, R.H. 2000. Anacardiaceae. In: Seed Plants of Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 56-59. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.