Shrubs, usually covered with candelabra or stellate hairs or both mixed in all juvenile
parts. Leaves opposite or subopposite, sessile or petiolate, tomentose or mealy when young,
glabrous when old, curvipinnate and rectipinnate. Inflorescences centrifugal pseudoracemes
or compound dichasia; flower buds ellipsoid-clavate to spathulate. Flowers bracteate,
ebracteolate, zygomorphic, sympetalous, 4-gonous. Calyculus obsolete. Petals 4, united, curved;
tube terete or tetragonous, ventricose just before anthesis; lobes 4, spoon-shaped, unilaterally
reflexed after anthesis. Stamens 4, erect; filaments terete or subterete, adnate to the corolla;
anthers variable, basifixed, isothecate, anisothecate, circumthecate or not, elevatilobate,
planilobate, with or without sterile apex. Ovary clavate or obconical, usually strongly attenuating
towards base and with narrow calyx rim; smooth or rugose; style tetragonous, equal to petals;
stigma conical, capitate or subglobose. Fruits tubercled or areolate, hairy or glabrous; exocarp
coriaceous; endocarp viscous; seeds in the widest part of the fruit. Endosperm obovate,
horned or not, mamillate or not, smooth, ribbed, with appressed scales.
South-east Asia, ca 23 species; 10 species in India.
4a. Young twigs with stellate hairs; lateral nerves rectipinnate; midrib evanescent towards apex;
filaments erect at anthesis; epigynous glands present; fruits with brown stellate hairs
b. Young twigs with candelabra hairs; lateral nerves curvipinnate; midrib extending up to apex;
filaments twisted at anthesis; epigynous glands absent; fruits glabrous
b. Inflorescence a compound dichasium; lateral nerves 3 - 4 pairs, distinct on both surfaces;
anthers anisothecate; ovary clavate; fruits tubercled, not with reticulate markings
8a. Young leaves clothed with velvety shiny white mealy tomentum, consisting of elongated
candelabra hairs on both surfaces; midrib evanescent towards apex; petioles 14 - 22 mm long;
flower buds with abruptly acute apex; endosperm puncutate
b. Young leaves clothed with non-velvety dull brown or rusty brown candelabra hairs mixed with
stellate hairs on both surfaces; midrib extending up to apex; petioles 3-7 mm long; flower buds
with clavate apex; endosperm smooth
9
9a. Leaves larger, 8 - 12 x 2 - 6 cm, pale tomentose beneath when mature; lateral nerves curvipinnate;
inflorescence centrifugal pseudoraceme; flower buds club-shaped, erect; corolla dark red outside
and purple inside; corolla and style 8 - 15 mm long; anthers isothecate; fruits smooth; endosperm
hornless, smooth
b. Leaves smaller, 6 - 8 x 1.5 - 3 cm, glabrous beneath when mature; lateral nerves rectipinnate;
inflorescence a compound dichasium; flower buds linear-cylindric, curved; corolla dark brown
outside and red inside; corolla and style 20 - 30 mm long; anthers anisothecate; fruits rugose;
endosperm horned, ribbed