Sapindaceae

Defining Characteristics

• Compound or palmately lobed leaves, usually alternate ( opposite in maples and horse chestnuts)
• Paired samaras (winged fruits) in the maple subfamily; fleshy berries or capsules in others
• Saponin-rich tissues in many members (hence 'soapberry')
• Small, often inconspicuous flowers, typically with 4–5 petals and a nectar disc
• Includes the former families Aceraceae (maples) and Hippocastanaceae (horse chestnuts), now merged based on molecular evidence

Notable Genera

• Acer (maples) — ~130 species, dominant in temperate forests
• Aesculus (horse chestnuts and buckeyes)
• Sapindus (soapberries)
• Litchi (lychee)
• Nephelium (rambutan)

Notes

Broadly defined family following APG molecular phylogenetics, absorbing the traditional maple and horse chestnut families. Economically important for maple syrup, tropical fruits (lychee, rambutan, longan), and ornamental trees.