Information

Small, usually much-branched, glabrous trees and shrubs. Leaves opposite, entire, leathery. Flowers in short, compact spikes, mostly consisting of a terminal female flower subtended by bracts in the axils of which 2–4 male flowers, or each inflorescence unisexual. Male flowers with 4 tepals, 2 outer and 2 inner ones, equal or unequal; stamens 4–6(–10), each opposite a tepal or more stamens at each tepal; anthers sessile, subsessile or on filaments, dorsifixed near the base, opening by longitudinal slits; rudimentary ovary truncate or 3-lobed at apex or absent. Female flowers with 4–6 tepals; staminodes absent; ovary 3-celled; styles 3; ovules 2 per cell. Fruit a capsule, dehiscing loculicidally, valves each with 2 apical horn-like projections representing remains of the styles; endocarp hard, separating from softer exocarp at maturity. Seeds usually 3-ridged or ovoid-oblong, with black, shining testa.

Information

Small, usually much-branched, glabrous trees and shrubs. Leaves opposite, entire, leathery. Flowers in short, compact spikes, mostly consisting of a terminal female flower subtended by bracts in the axils of which 2–4 male flowers, or each inflorescence unisexual. Male flowers with 4 tepals, 2 outer and 2 inner ones, equal or unequal; stamens 4–6(–10), each opposite a tepal or more stamens at each tepal; anthers sessile, subsessile or on filaments, dorsifixed near the base, opening by longitudinal slits; rudimentary ovary truncate or 3-lobed at apex or absent. Female flowers with 4–6 tepals; staminodes absent; ovary 3-celled; styles 3; ovules 2 per cell. Fruit a capsule, dehiscing loculicidally, valves each with 2 apical horn-like projections representing remains of the styles; endocarp hard, separating from softer exocarp at maturity. Seeds usually 3-ridged or ovoid-oblong, with black, shining testa.

Information

Small, usually much-branched, glabrous trees and shrubs. Leaves opposite, entire, leathery. Flowers in short, compact spikes, mostly consisting of a terminal female flower subtended by bracts in the axils of which 2–4 male flowers, or each inflorescence unisexual. Male flowers with 4 tepals, 2 outer and 2 inner ones, equal or unequal; stamens 4–6(–10), each opposite a tepal or more stamens at each tepal; anthers sessile, subsessile or on filaments, dorsifixed near the base, opening by longitudinal slits; rudimentary ovary truncate or 3-lobed at apex or absent. Female flowers with 4–6 tepals; staminodes absent; ovary 3-celled; styles 3; ovules 2 per cell. Fruit a capsule, dehiscing loculicidally, valves each with 2 apical horn-like projections representing remains of the styles; endocarp hard, separating from softer exocarp at maturity. Seeds usually 3-ridged or ovoid-oblong, with black, shining testa.