Celastraceae R.Br.

Hermaphrodite, monoecious, andromonoecious, dioecious, gynodioecious or polygamous, sometimes deciduous, trees, shrubs, scrambling shrubs, lianas climbing by twining stems or hook-like branches, or annual or perennial herbs, sometimes with latex (Parnassioideae, not in Australia), indumentum various. Stems unarmed or with thorns, rarely branches terminating in sharp points. Leaves alternate, subopposite or opposite, whorled, sometimes in basal rosettes or in fascicles on short shoots, simple, rarely scale-like or absent, simple, entire, dentate, serrate, crenate, spinose, glandular-toothed or emarginate, usually petiolate; venation pinnate; donatia sometimes present in axils of larger leaves; stipules absent, or small and commonly caducous. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, cymose, thyrsoid, paniculate, racemose or in spikes, usually bracteate; flowers sometimes solitary. Flowers actinomorphic or zygomorphic, bisexual or unisexual. Calyx (2–) 3–5 sepals, the sepals free or connate at base or to above the middle, imbricate or valvate or calyx calyptriform or variously splitting. Hypogynous, or sometimes perigynous (e.g. Stackhousia) with a short or cup-shaped hypanthium, or half-epigynous. Petals 3–5, free or medially connate into a tube, imbricate, rarely valvate. Stamens 2–5, sometimes (not in Australia) up to 10 or more, sometimes 3 long and 2 short (Stackhousia), opposite sepals, rarely alternating with staminodes; filaments free or connate to inner wall of nectariferous disc, inserted on or beneath nectariferous disc; anthers tetrasporangiate, dithecal (sometimes 1-celled), basifixed or dorsifixed, sometimes versatile, dehiscing by longitudinal, transverse or oblique slits, rarely apical, sometimes gland-tipped (e.g. Macgregoria), alternate with petals when stamen number equals petal number. Nectariferous disc present and usually well-developed, extrastaminal (Parnassioideae), intrastaminal, or stamens on disc, annular, pulvinate, patelliform, short-tubular, cupuliform, cylindric or columnar, fleshy or membranous, rarely lacerate or irregularly lobed, sometimes indistinct or absent, or sometimes (not in Australia) forming a stout androgynophore. Gynoecium of 2–5 connate carpels. Ovary superior, (1–) 2–5 (–10)-locular, partly, completely or not at all immersed in nectariferous disc; style prominent, short or obsolete; stigmas as many as carpels, simple or lobed.  Ovule 2-numerous per locule, placentation axile, intruded parietal or basal.  Fruit a loculicidal (sometimes strongly 3-lobed) or septicidal capsule, or a schizocarp with up to 5 nutlets (cocci), drupe, berry with seeds embedded in pulp or samara. Seeds 1–many, smooth or sometimes furrowed, often with an orange or red aril, sometimes winged; endosperm copious or sometimes absent (Parnassioideae).

The wood of a number of species has been used for timber (e.g. Spindle Tree Euonymus javanicus – not in Australia, Lophopetalum spp., Maytenus spp.). The wood of Euonymus europaeus (Common Spindle Tree) has traditionally been used for turnery to make spindles for spinning wheels. Some species of Celastrus, Euonymus, Maytenus and Salacia chinensis have medicinal properties. The leaves and twigs of Catha edulis (Khat), which is occasionally cultivated in botanic gardens, is a source of a stimulant widely used in parts of tropical Africa and Asia. It is a legal cash crop in Ethiopia. The extracts from the bark of Lophopetalum javanicum and L. pallidum have been used as poisons in arrows and darts. Most parts of Euonymus are poisonous. Several species have edible seeds or fruits, e.g. Salacia chinensis (Simmons 2004, Christenhusz et al. 2017, HortFlora). Various species, in particular Celastrus, Elaeodendron, Euonymus and Maytenus are cultivated as ornamentals.