Anacardiaceae

Anacardium is formed from Greek words referring to the fleshy receptacle or heart above the fruit which is suspended below as in the cashew nut. Trees or shrubs, rarely climbers. Leaves alternate rarely opposite, simple or compound; resin canals common, exudate clear to milky often turning black on exposure to air, often toxic. Inflorescence usually a panicle. Flowers bisexual or unisexual, 4-5-merous, sepals usually fused at the base; stamens 5, 10 or more, filaments arise outside the disc; staminodes present in female flowers. Carpels 1-3 usually united; fruit usually fleshy and indehiscent, usually a drupe, usually resinous.