Friesodielsia Steenis

Typically woody climbers or in Africa often shrubs, glabrous or with an indumentum of simple or rarely (in the single East African species) with forked or ± stellate hairs. Flowers hermaphrodite, solitary, fascicled or in cymes, typically extra-axillary; bracts and bracteoles sometimes developed. Sepals 3, valvate, often venose. Petals 6, valvate, typically very unequal, the outer large and elongate, the inner much smaller, ovate-lanceolate or oblong, connivent over the stamens and ovaries with margins adhering, but in African species the petals are often much less unequal and the inner ones scarcely connivent. Stamens numerous to very numerous, forming a hemispherical or subglabose androecium; filaments usually short; connective-appendages flattened and covering the anther-cells, nearly always hiding them and typically forming a flat tight pavement. Carpels usually numerous, oblong or cylindric, with 1 (rarely 2) ovules in Asiatic species but 1–5 in African species; style distinct; stigma capitate or clavate, grooved. Monocarps with 1 article or up to 5 in African species; articles cylindric, ellipsoid or sausage-shaped. Seeds similarly shaped, smooth; testal intrusions into the endosperm lamelliform.