Shrubs or trees; innovations pubescent. Leaves estipulate, 1-or 3-foliolate; petioles articulate, with a constriction (in herb). Panicles axillary or pseudoter-minal, one to few together; flowers in more or less stalked cymes, scattered along a simple or sparsely branched rachis; cymes subtended by small caducous bracts, occasionally by a reduced petiole (petioloid), or rarely a small leaf. Flowers heterodistylous. Sepals unequal, shortly connate at base, inside appressed strigose, persistent (except in S. diver sifolia). Petals contorted, sometimes paratact, inside with minute papillae in the upper half. Filamental annulus without scales. Ovules 2 per cell. Fruit fleshy, red at least when dry, with ± distinct episeptal rimae sometimes lighter and minutely papillose inside (at least when dry). Seeds exaril-late; testa smooth to transversely rugose, hard, reddish, splitting irregularly by pressure; embryo with a straight radicle in line with the cotyledons which are 3-5 times as long as the radicle.
Uses. The fruit, although acid, is eaten in curry, sajur, and manisan and is said to be a remedy against coughing. The timber is light and of small dimension, neither very strong nor durable, sometimes used for roofs.
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