Woody climbers; bark exfoliating on drying. Leaves ovate, subcordate, entire,
sometimes dentate, rarely 3-lobed;; basal nerves 3 -
5(-7), palmate; lateral nerves distal,
1-3 pairs, sometimes with domatia or glandular patches; petioles swollen and geniculate
at base. Inflorescences thyrsoid, psuedo-paniculate, pseudo-racemose or pseudo spicate. Male flowers: sepals free, rarely connate at base, 6, in 2 whorls; outer 3 smaller,
subelliptic; petals 3 - 6, obovate, cuneate, with inrolled lateral edges, usually fleshy,
glandular papillose; stamens 6, free. Female flowers: sepals and petals as in male ones;
staminodes 6, subulate; carpels 3, curved-ellipsoid; style short; stigma peltate, reflexed,
with short pointed lobes. Drupes 3, ovoid or ellipsoid; carpophore columnar; endocarp
bony, dorsally convex, often verrucose or tuberculate, ventrally with central aperture;
condyle present; endosperm usually ruminate, deeply intrusive.
Tropical Africa, Madagascar, Asia to Australia and Pacific Islands; ca 32 species,
4 species in India.
KEY TO THE SPECIES
1a Stems strongly tuberculate; petals usually 3; endocarp 11 -
13 mm long
b. Male flowers on 2 -
5 mm long pedicels; drupes radiating from shortly 3-branched or 3-cornered
carpophore
3
3a. Leaves glabrous, with glandular papillose patches (domatia) on lower surface; peduncles 4 -
7 mm long;
endocarp very thinly bony, rounded at both ends
b. Leaves hairy, usually lacking glandular patches; peduncles 8 - 11(-15) mm long; endocarp strongly bony, obtusely pointed at base, broadly keeled at apex
