Members: Ambavia, Cananga, Cleistopholis, Cyathocalyx, Drepananthus, Lettowianthus, Meiocarpidium, Mezzettia, Onychopetalum, Sanrafaelia, Tetrameranthus.
Region: paleotropical;
Madagascar, Central Africa, Southeast Asia.
Habitat: lowland rainforests; moist tropical environments.
BotanyIndumentum: May be hairy or glabrous depending on species.
Leaves: Simple, alternate, entire margins.
Stipules: Absent (a general
Annonaceae trait).
Flowers: trimerous ; actinomorphic.
Petals: usually 6, in 2 whorls of 3; petals may be similar or dimorphic, occasionally thick or fleshy; imbricate.
Stamens: numerous, spirally arranged; often with extended connectives forming a cap.
Carpels: free = apocarpous; numerous; ovules 1 to several per carpel.
Fruit: apocarpous; monocarps; fleshy, free or loosely aggregated.
Seed: endosperm ruminate, with varied embryo size.
TaxonomyAmbavioideae is considered basal within
Annonaceae, meaning it retains several primitive floral traits, such as: imbricate petal aestivation; more floral parts.