Lepisanthes Blume

Trees or shrubs, exceptionally lianas; mostly monoecious. Indumentum of solitary, simple hairs; no glandular scales. Leaves spirally arranged, pari-or imparipinnate, sometimes simple, 1-to more than 40-jugate, petiole and/or rachis winged or not, with or without pseudo-stipules. Leaflets opposite or alternate, not papillose beneath, margin entire. Inflorescences terminal, axillary, rami-, or cauliflorous, rarely sticky. Flowers unisexual, actinomorphic. Sepals 4 or 5 (rarely 3 or 6), free, imbricate, outer 2 (or 1) mostly distinctly smaller, mostly at least inner ones partly petaloid, entire or partly denticulate. Petals 4 or 5 (rarely 3, 6, or 7), shorter to longer than sepals, mostly distinctly clawed; scale mostly well developed, sometimes only represented by a hairy rim or a pair of small auricles, crested or not. Disc interrupted or not, mostly slightly lobed, without appendage. Stamens mostly c. 8 (4-18), in male flowers not to distinctly exserted; filaments nearly always hairy mostly either the base or the apex excepted; anthers hairy or glabrous. Ovary sessile to short-stipitate, lobed or not, 2-or 3(-4)-celled; style apical, about as long as the ovary or stigma sessile; stigma globular or dome-shaped, slightly lobed. Ovules 1 per cell, subbasal to median, placenta with an obturator. Fruits sessile to short-stipitate, not to distinctly lobed, drupaceous; outside smooth (or slightly warty), hairy to glabrous; pericarp thin-(or thick-)fleshy, inside hairy or glabrous; septa mostly complete, sometimes interrupted or represented merely by a rib. Seeds with a shining brown to black, glabrous or sometimes hairy testa; without arillode or sarcotesta; hilum basal, small.

Uses A few species have some value as ornamental trees. The wood of several species is used, but only few reach a sufficient size to have value as timber trees. Different parts of several species are of medicinal value. The fruits of some species are eaten, but only L. fruticosa and L. alata are planted for their fruits.