The Lecythidaceae ( ) comprise a family of about 30 genera and 250âÂÂ300 species of woody plants native to tropical South America, Africa (including Madagascar), Asia and Australia.
Well known members of the family include the cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis) and the edible Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa).
30 genera are currently accepted.
According to molecular analysis of Lecythidaceae, including work by Mori et al. (2007), subfamilies include:
Previously Barringtoniaceae; also sensu Takhtajan 1997; this subfamily was also called Planchonioideae (which included Barringtonia). Genera are restricted to the Old World tropics.
Previously Foetidiaceae from Madagascar is monogeneric:
Genera restricted to the New World tropics.
The APG II system of 2003 included genera from the family Scytopetalaceae and others
Previously as family Napoleonaeaceae; species are native to Africa.