Usually dioecious trees or shrubs. Leaves simple. Inflorescence a raceme-like or paniculate thyrse. Flowers actinomorphic, unisexual or (rarely) bisexual. Sepals 3-7, sometimes slightly connate. Petals 0. Stamens 5-8. Ovary 2-4(-5)-locular; loculi 2-ovulate. Fruit a 2-6-locular capsule, winged. Seed without an arillode. Worldwide: 50 species mainly in Australia; a few pantropical and one in Madagascar. Botswana: 1 taxon. |