Trees, unarmed; buds conical. Raphides absent. Leaves opposite, usually with domatia; stipules caducous, interpetiolar, triangular. Inflorescences terminal, capitate with heads globose and solitary, many flowered, pedunculate, bracteate. Flowers sessile, bisexual, monomorphic. Calyx limb 5-lobed; lobes sometime spatulate. Corolla yellow to white, salverform to funnelform, glabrous inside; lobes 5, imbricate in bud. Stamens 5, inserted in upper part of corolla tube, partially exserted; filaments short; anthers basifixed. Ovary 2-celled in basal portion, 2-4-celled in upper portion, ovules several in each cell on axile, simple or 2-forked placentas attached to upper third of septum; stigma cylindrical or fusiform, at apex bifid, exserted. Fruiting head with central axis becoming markedly enlarged and fleshy to fibrous. Fruit drupaceous, indehiscent or tardily dehiscent into 4 indehiscent segments or perhaps dehiscent valves, ellipsoid to cylindrical or obconic, with exocarp somewhat fleshy to membranous or papery, with endocarp cartilaginous to bony, with calyx limb persistent; seeds several, small, compressed, fusiform to angled, with testa membranous; endosperm fleshy; embryo small, cylindrical.
Home