Shrubs or trees, monoecious; hairs absent [unbranched]; latex white. Leaves semipersistent, alternate, simple; stipules present, persistent [deciduous]; petiole present, glands present at apex or absent; blade unlobed, margins serrulate [entire], laminar glands absent; venation pinnate. Inflorescences bisexual (pistillate flowers proximal, staminate distal) or staminate, terminal, racemelike thyrses; glands subtending each bract 10–14. Pedicels present or absent. Staminate flowers: sepals 3, imbricate, connate basally; petals 0; nectary absent; stamens 2[–5], distinct; pistillode absent. Pistillate flowers: sepals 2[–3], distinct; petals 0; nectary absent; pistil 2[–3]-carpellate; styles 2[–3], connate proximally, unbranched. Fruits capsules. Seeds broadly ovoid-oblong; outer seed coat dry; caruncle absent.

Distribution

Arizona, Mexico, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Species 5 (1 in the flora).

Species of Pleradenophora were historically mostly classified within Sebastiania. Molecular phylogenetic analyses show that Sebastiania in the broad sense is polyphyletic and indicate a close relationship of Pleradenophora with a West Indian clade containing Bonania A. Richard, Grimmeodendron Urban, and Hippomane (K. Wurdack et al. 2005).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Pleradenophora bilocularis