Shrubs or small trees. Leaves alternate, simple, exstipulate, membranaceous to coriaceous. Inflorescence terminal, paniculiform, the ultimate branches umbelli-form. Flowers apetalous, dioecious., tetramerous; perianth rotate, more or less petalaceous, usually densely puberulent, the limb deeply 4-lobed. Staminate flow-ers: stamens 4, widely exserted upon elongate filaments, antesepalous, inserted at the base of the perianth lobes; pistillode minute, stipitate, subtended by a minute, usually eccentric disc. Pistillate flowers (unknown from Panama): somewhat smaller than the staminate; staminodes not reported; pistil 1-carpellate, containing a single pendulous anatropous ovule; stigma capitate and obscurely 2-lobed, elevated upon a short stout style, exserted, subtended by an inconspicuous disc. Fruit a slightly fleshy drupe.
Home