Dichapetalaceae

Dichapetalaceae is a small family of flowering plants in the order Malpighiales. The family includes a few genera, the best known of which is Dichapetalum. Members are woody plants, typically trees and shrubs, native to tropical Africa and Asia.

Systematics and classification have varied in the past. In older classifications, Dichapetalaceae was sometimes treated as a part of Euphorbiaceae sensu lato. Modern treatments generally recognize Dichapetalaceae as a distinct family within Malpighiales, though circumscription and the exact number of genera can differ among taxonomic systems.

Description and distribution are correspondingly modest in detail. Members of the family are characterized by woody growth forms with simple leaves and small, inconspicuous flowers. The fruit type and other morphological features vary among genera and species, and many species occupy forested or forest-edge habitats in tropical regions of Africa and Asia.

Chemistry and toxicology are notable aspects of Dichapetalaceae. Several species produce toxic secondary metabolites, most prominently the dichapetalins, a class of cytotoxic triterpenoids. These compounds have attracted scientific interest for potential pharmacological applications, though they also contribute to the toxicity of some species, which can affect livestock and non-target organisms.

Ecology and uses are generally limited in scope. The plants do not form major commercial crops, but some species have roles in traditional medicine or local cultural practices. The family remains of interest mainly to botanists and researchers studying tropical plant diversity and plant secondary metabolites.