Boscia Lam.

Small trees or shrubs, unarmed, generally with smooth grey bark. Leaves alternate or fascicled, always simple. Bud-scales woody, subulate, generally persistent at the bases of the new shoots. Inflorescence a simple or compound terminal often corymbose raceme, which may, apparently, sometimes grow out into a leafy twig. Sepals 4, free or nearly so, valvate; receptacle with a small sometimes fimbriate disk, generally prominent. Petals absent. Stamens 4–18, as long as the gynophore. Ovary ovoid or ellipsoid, 1-locular; placentas 2, lateral with 4 or more ovules each; stigma and style somewhatproduced. Fruits globose with a crustaceous exocarp, 1–several-seeded, indehiscent.