Tiliaceae

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Tiliaceae A family of dicotyledonous (see DICOTYLEDON) trees, shrubs, and a few herbs. The leaves are usually alternate, and the inflorescences cymose. Flowers are regular, bisexual, with superior ovaries; the (usually) 5 sepals are valvate in bud and there are normally 5 petals and many free stamens. The fruit is a capsule, a drupe, or a nut. A number of Tilia species are used for timber; Corchorus capsularis is the source of jute; and other species are grown for ornament. There are about 48 genera, with 725 species, occurring mainly in the tropics, but with some temperate species.