A small family of about 250 species. A large family, whose 2250 species are dominantly distributed over tropics and subtropics. Trees and shrubs. Many species contain essential oils made up from phenylpropanoids and terpenoids. A tropical family of 1400 species.
Most species are woody vines.
Most of the 700 species are found in the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. Like in the previous family, alkaloids are common. The Caryophyllidae represent an own line of evolution, starting from the Magnoliidae . 11000 species, most of which are annual or perennial herbs. Their common chemical characteristic is abundency of polyphenols, tannins and pentacyclic triterpenes.