Anacardiaceae, commonly known as the cashew family, is a large family of flowering plants It is composed of roughly 83 genera and approximately 1,140 species of trees, shrubs, and woody vines. It is widely distributed in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions, particularly in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Plants in this family are well known for their distinctive, aromatic fruits, often referred to as "drupes".
Anacardiaceae are highly variable in terms of their size and form, from small, shrubby plants to large trees. Plants in this family may be monoecious (having both male and female flowers on the same plant) or dioecious (having male and female flowers on separate plants). The flowers of Anacardiaceae are usually white or yellow, and have five petals. The fruits of this family are most commonly drupes, and may be red, orange, yellow, pink, or purple in color.
The five best examples of Anacardiaceae plants are the cashew (Anacardium occidentale), the mango (Mangifera indica), the pistachio (Pistacia vera), the marula (Sclerocarya birrea), and the sumac (Rhus coriaria). The cashew is an evergreen tree native to tropical regions. It is widely cultivated for its nuts which are used for food, and the shells of the nuts are used for oil extraction, medicines, and lacquers. The mango is perhaps the most widely recognized Anacardiaceae species, and is native to India. It is widely cultivated for its edible fruit, which has a sweet flavor and a soft, pulpy texture. The pistachio is an deciduous tree native to the Mediterranean region. The nuts of this tree are edible, and are widely used to flavor desserts and savory dishes. The marula is an evergreen tree native to southern Africa. It produces small yellow-green drupes which have a sweet flavor and are used to make wines and liqueurs. Finally, the sumac is an evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean. Its fruits are used to make a tart spice, and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries.
Anacardiaceae is a fascinating family of plants with a wide variety of uses. From the delicious mango to the iconic cashew nut, this family of plants provides us with some of our favorite flavors and fragrances. Not only that, but they also have many uses in traditional medicine and industry, making them an invaluable part of our lives.