Conocarpus L.

Mangrove-like shrubs or trees, without pneumatophores but sometimes with stilt-roots, not spiny; only ‘combretaceous hairs’ present. Leaves alternate, with conspicuous domatia (bowl-shaped pits) in secondary vein-axils; with petiolar glands. Inflorescences axillary or terminal racemes or panicles of compact, more or less globose heads, mainly leafless; bracts very small, withered by fruiting. Flowers possibly functionally dioecious but with a range of development of male and female organs, actinomorphic, sessile, 5-merous; upper hypanthium campanulate; calyx lobes 5; petals 0; stamens (5-)10, exserted, anthers versatile; style free, glabrous. Fruits small, flattened 2-winged nuts, upper hypanthium and calyx persistent, densely packed into cone-like heads which shatter to release individual fruits.