Monoecious (in ours) shrubs or trees, with milky latex sometimes present. Leaves simple, alternate, entire, usually with a few glands beneath. Inflorescences consisting of terminal spikes or racemes borne on short lateral shoots; with 1-5 female flowers at the base and a dense head of male flowers at the apex. Male flowers: calyx lobes 2-3; petals 0; stamens with the 2-3 filaments united into a column. Female flowers: calyx lobes 3; ovary 3-locular with 1 ovule per loculus; styles 3. Fruit spherical or weakly 2-3-lobed, dehiscent.
Worldwide: 4 species, occurring in tropical America and tropical Africa. Malawi: 1 taxon. |
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