Lianas, shrubs or small trees. Leaves imparipinnate. Panicles axillary,
rarely pseudoterminal, bracteate; bracteoles small, fimbriate. Flowers bisexual,
5-merous. Sepals usually minutely pubescent outside, ciliate along the margin,
glabrous on the inner surface, enlarged and clasping the base of the fruit. Petals
lanceolate. 2 - 3 times longer than sepals, glabrous within. Stamens 10, united
at base, glabrous, outer whorl longer; filaments filiform. Carpels 5; ovary
pubescent or glabrous; style slender; stigma capitate, obscurely 2-lobed. Fruit
usually 1 per flower, ellipsoid to ovoid, usually slightly recurved, finely
longitudinally striate, opening by a ventral longitudinal slit, rarely pericarp tearing
loose irregularly; pericarp thin, coriaceous to very hard. Seed 1, usually flattened;
testa fleshy or seed enveloped by a fleshy arillode; endosperm lacking.
Tropical Central and S. America, Africa, S.E.
Asia, N.E. Australia and
Melanesia; ca 90 - 100 species, 3 in India.
KEY TO THE SPECIES
1a. Leaflets 10 - 25 pairs. up to 3.5 cm long. mimosoid, pubescent
