Semecarpus L.f.

Trees, rarely shrubs; plants dioecious, rarely polygamous. Leaves simple, alternate, entire, petiolate. Panicles terminal or axillary. Flowers small, unisexual, rarely bisexual; male flowers smaller than the female or bisexual flowers. Calyx 5-lobed caducous, imbricate. Petals 5, imbricate. Stamens 5; filaments subulate, glabrous. Disc broad, 5-lobed. Carpels 3, syncarpous; ovary superior or semi inferior, 1-loculed, 1-ovuled; styles 3, divergent, pubescent at base; stigma clavate. Drupes laterally compressed, seated on a fleshy hypocarp made up of accrescent disc and calyx base.

Tropical South East Asia, Australia, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Fiji; ca 60 species, 7 in India.

KEY TO THE SPECIES

1a. Leaves auricled at base

2. Semearpus auriculata

b. Leaves not auricled at base

2

2a. Leaves subpandurifonn

6. Semecarpus subpanduriformis

b. Leaves not as above

3

3a. Branches and leaves rusty tomentose or pubescent

4

b. Branches and leaves glabrous

5

4a. Leaves obovate-oblong, apex rounded

1. Semecarpus anacardium

b. Leaves oblanceolate-oblong. apex shortly acuminate

4. Semecarpus kurzii

5a. Panicles pubescent; leaf apex acuminate

5. Semecarpus prainii

b. Panicles glabrous; leaf apex obtuse

6

6a. Leaves 13-24 x 6-12 cm; petioles 3-5 cm long

7. Semecarpus travancorica

b. Leaves (25-) 45-100 x (6-) 15-22 cm; petioles 5-10 cm long

3. Semecarpus kathalekanensis

List of Lower Taxa