Icacinaceae s.l. according to currently circumscription is treated as four distinct families: Cardiopteridaceae, Icacinaceae s.s., Stemonuraceae and Pennantiaceae. Cardiopteridaceae, Icacinaceae s.s. and Stemonuraceae are represented in tropical forests of South America. Along the northeastern part of the Atlantic Forest domain these families are represented by the following species: Citronella paniculata (Mart.) R.A. Roward, Dendrobangia boliviana Rusby, , Discophora guianensis Miers, Emmotum affine Miers, Leretia cordata Vell., and Pleurisanthes simpliciflora Sleumer. The species show a disjunct distribution between the Atlantic and Amazon Forests, except for Emmotum affine which is endemic to Atlantic Forest. Identification key, illustrations as well as commentaries about geographic distribution, habitats and diagnostic characteristics are presented.
Cardiopteridaceae; Neotropics; Stemonuraceae; taxonomy