Drypetes subsessilis (Kurz) Pax & K.Hoffm. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147.xv (heft 81): 248. 1922; Chakrab. et al. in J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 21: 273. 1997; Ayyappan & Parthasarathy in Phytotaxonomy 1: 132. 2001. Cyclostemon subsessilis Kurz in J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 42(2): 240. 1873 & Forest Fl. Burma 2: 364. 1877; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5: 342. 1887.

Trees, 4 - 10 (- 18) m tall; branchlets glabrous. Leaves oblong to oblong-elliptic, unequal at base, sharply serrate when young to obscurely serrate or entire along margins when mature, caudate-acuminate at apex, (10 -) 15 - 35 x (3 -) 4.5 - 8 cm, coriaceous to chartaceous, glabrous; midrib usually somewhat incised above; lateral nerves 7 - 17 pairs; petioles 5 - 15 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, fascicled at axils of fallen leaves. Male flowers: 4 - 5 mm across; pedicels 2 - 5 mm long; sepals 4, suborbicular, 2 - 3 x 1.5 - 2.8 mm; stamens 3 or 4, 4 - 5 mm long; disc plicate-dentate with short inner processes embracing the bases of filaments. Female flowers: pedicels up to 2.5 mm long; sepals 4, suborbicular, 4 - 5 x 3.5 - 4.5 mm; disc annular, puberulous; ovary globose, ca 2 mm in diam., 2-locular, tomentellous; stigmas 2, ca 1 mm across. Fruits oblong-ellipsoid to globose or occasionally transverse, 15 - 20 x 13 - 20 mm, bilobed, 2-locular, rusty puberulous; pedicels 0.5 - 2.5 (-5) mm long.

Fl. & Fr. Nov. - May.

Distrib. India: In moist tropical and subtropical forests, at 500 - 1200 m altitude. (?)Assam, West Bengal (Gamble 6644A in K), Orissa (Gamble 2422B in K), ?Tamil Nadu (Indira Gandhi Wild Life Sanctuary in Anamalai hills, Coimbatore Dist. - see Ayyappan & Parthasarathy, l. c.) and Andaman Islands (Parkinson 408 in K).

Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand.

Notes. The disjunct distribution between NE. India, Bhutan, Myanmar and Thailand in the north and Anamalai hills in Tamil Nadu in south is perplexing.