Trees or shrubs, usually not heterophyllous, not clonal; branching sympodial. Stems usually spinose, sometimes unarmed, spines simple and/or compound. Leaves usually persistent, sometimes deciduous; stipules minute; petiole not glandular. Inflorescences axillary or terminal (on lateral twigs), few-flowered, racemelike cymes [2-flowered fascicles], pistillate flowers sometimes solitary. Pedicels articulate near base. Flowers (unisexual and/or bisexual, fragrant [not]); sepals 4–7; disc lobed; stamens ca. 15–30; filaments distinct; ovary [2–]5–7[–10]-carpellate (and -locular, placentation axile, placentae intruded and fused); styles (persistent) connate basally [entirely and columnar]; stigma notched-capitate or truncate. Fruits drupaceous. Seeds: aril absent. x = 11.

Distribution

Fla., s Asia, c, s Africa, Indian Ocean islands, Pacific Islands.

Discussion

Species ca. 15 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Flacourtia indica