Carallia Roxb.

Shrubs or trees, a single sp. occasionally with small stilt-roots at the base of the stem. Twigs solid. Leaves decussate, petioled, entire to dentate or serrate, papyraceous to thinly coriaceous, black-dotted beneath; midrib sulcate above, prominent below. Stipules lanceolate. Inflorescences sessile or peduncled, cluster-like condensed or lax, di-or trichotomously branched, sometimes reduced to 2, or even a single flower. Bracteoles 2, free and caducous or at least connate at the base and persistent. Flowers sessile or pedicelled. Calyx lobes 5-8, deltoid, acute to acuminate. Petals 5-8, unguiculate, caducous or persistent. Stamens twice the number of petals, persistent, free or towards the base connate into a tube (C. papuana), unequal in length, the short ones oppositisepalous, the long ones oppositipetalous; filaments subulate, flat or slightly fleshy; anthers ovoid or subglobose. Disk annular, fleshy. Ovary inferior, 5-8-celled, each cell 2-ovuled, or 1-celled with a central axis and 10-12 pendulous ovules inserted at its top; style filiform or slightly conical; stigmas discoid or capitate, grooved or obscurely lobed. Fruits pulpy, globose, ellipsoid or obovoid, 1-celled, l(-2-5)-seeded. Seeds ellipsoid or reniform, albuminous, areolate; embryo straight or curved.

On lowland ridges, hills, and in swampy places up into the mountains to c. 1800 m.