Aleurites J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

Trees, evergreen or deciduous, with stellate tomentum. Leaves spirally arranged, simple, long petioled, entire or palmately 3 - 7-lobed; main nerves 3 - 7; petioles long, biglandular on anterior side of apex; stipules small, early caducous. Inflorescences laxly much-branched paniculate or corymbose cymes, terminal or upper axillary; flowers unisexual or rarely imperfectly bisexual. Male flowers: expanding before female flowers; calyx subglobose, spathaceously dividing into 2 - 5 subequal valvate lobes; petals 5, imbricate or contorted in bud, spathulate, conspicuous, longer than sepals; disc glands 5, free, alternipetalous; stamens 15 - 20, arising in 4 distinct whorls from the conical receptacle; filaments connate at base into a hairy column, inner 3 - 4 longer; anthers erect; thecae 2, parallel; connectives broad; pistillode absent. Female flowers: calyx and corolla same as in male; disc absent or consisting of 5 minute glands, episepalous; ovary 2-locular; styles 2 - 5, free, each 2-lobed or 2-partite with 2 linear stout arms; ovule solitary in each locule. Fruits drupaceous, large, globose; pyrene 1, 1 - 5-loculed, indehiscent or tardily dehiscent; exocarp thick, woody; endocarp crustaceous; seeds 3, globose with thick woody smooth or rugose testa.

S. E. Asia to E. Asia, from N. E. India, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Japan, Malesia to Pacific Islands, 2 species; one in India.

List of Lower Taxa