4919.000 Leea L.

Shrubs, small trees, scramblers or rarely large perennial herbs, stems unarmed or with rows of prickles, tendrils absent. Stipules sheathing petiole margins with conspicuous persistent or caducous stipular wings. Leaves 1-4 pinnate to tri-foliate or simple; leaflet margins crenate, serrate or dentate, teeth with small glandular apex; glands abaxially. Inflorescence paniculate, often corymbiform, terminal or axillary, erect or pendulous. Flowers 4 or 5-merous; calyx campanuoate, lobes triangular, tips glandular; petals valvate, reflexed at anthesis, basally connate; floral disk tubular. Fruit berries, rather dry, depressed, sub-globose, purple, black or orange. Seeds endotestal, endosperm ruminate with roughly 5 ingrowths.

Worldwide: Species 34, widespread in tropical and sub-tropical Asia to Australia, 2 species in Africa and Madagascar.

Malawi: 1 taxon.