Mastixia Blume

Unarmed, resinous, evergreen trees up to 40(-60) m; branchlets with pith. Leaves simple, exstipulate, entire, acute, alternate or (sub)opposite to decussate, sometimes with domatia. Thyrses terminal on the main shoots, sometimes also on the laterals, up to 4(-8) times branched, the branches of the first order either (sub)opposite ('Oppositae') or spirally arranged ('Alternae'); further branchings with a tendency towards decussate arrangement and terminated by cymes; cymes with the central flower most often sessile and ebracteolate, lateral flowers pedicelled and bracteo-late. Bracts and bracteoles ovate to triangular, connate or free, lower bracts sometimes gradually becoming foliaceous. Flowers bisexual, greenish to yellowish. Calyx 4-5(-6-7)-toothed or-lobed, persistent. Petals valvate, 4-5(-6), thick, ovate to oblong-elliptic, inflexed at apex and 2-dentate or fimbriate, sometimes with a median ridge inside, spreading or reflexed. Stamens 4-5(-6), or 8, alternating with the petals, erect in bud; when 8 in 2 alternate whorls of 4; filaments subulate, flattened; anthers cordate, dorsifixed, abutting on and alternating with the disk lobes, latrorse; connective ± protruding. Ovary inferior, turbinate, 1-celled, surmounted by a prominent, fleshy, persistent disk c. ⅓ the height of the receptacle; invaginations of the disk abaxially 4-5 (fitting the filaments) and adaxially 8 or 10 (fitting the thecae), becoming shallower with age; style stout, ribbed; stigma punctiform, sometimes deeply 2-fid or 4-5-lobed, lobes sometimes reflexed. Ovule 1, pendulous laterally from the roof of the cell. Drupe subglobose to oblong, surmounted by calyx and disk; pericarp thin or thick, dark purple to blue when ripe; endocarp woody, sulcate on one side externally and internally deeply protruding into the fruit cavity as a wedge-shaped or swollen incomplete septum. Seed fitting the fruit cavity; testa membranous; endosperm copious; embryo small; cotyledons foliaceous; radicle elongate.

Primary and secondary forest, often in moist habitats, from sea-level up to 1800(-2400) m.

Uses. Although trees may reach a considerable size, the scattered occurrence does not contribute to general use as timber; besides, the timber is not of good quality and is only used for minor purposes. Cf. BURKILL Diet. 1935 1428 .