Shrubs or small trees. Branchlets spinescent, sometimes with scattered thorns. Leaves alternate, sometimes fasciculate, exstipulate; blade spatulate to oblanceolate to elliptic, margins entire, venation pinnate. Inflorescences axillary racemes or panicles, or flowers solitary; bracts 0.5-1 mm; bracteoles present or absent. Flowers unisexual, staminate and pistillate on same plant; perianth simple; tepals 4-5, imbricate, distinct, herbaceous. Staminate flowers: stamens [10-]12-14[-20], exserted; filaments filiform, 1-1.5[-2] mm; anthers basifixed, oblong, ex-trorsely dehiscent. Pistillate flowers: pistils 2-carpellate; ovary 1-locular; style absent; stigmas 2, filiform. Fruits berries. Seed 1, lenticular, without true endosperm; embryo annular, surrounding perisperm.
Home