Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrubs, sometimes climbers, to 4 m tall, evergreen, hermaphroditic, unarmed.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound (palmate). Alternate. Leaflets (5–)7–9(or 10), obovate–oblong to oblong or elliptic, 6–10(–12) × (1–)1.5–3.5(–4.5) cm. Apex obtuse or abruptly acute, rarely attenuate. Base cuneate to broadly so. Surfaces glabrous; blades subleathery. Margins entire. Secondary veins 4–6 pairs, tertiary veins distinct. Petioles (6–)10–20 cm; petiolules (0.6–)1–3 cm. Stipules present.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescence a terminal panicle of umbels, sparsely stellate tomentose, glabrescent; primary axis to 3–8 cm; secondary axes to 10 cm; pedicels less than 1.5–3 mm. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx subentire. Petals valvate. Stamens usually as many as and alternate with the petals, istinct, inserted at the edge of the epigynous nectary disk. Ovary inferior, 5- or 6-carpellate; styles none; stigmas sessile, 5 or 6.

Fruit: Drupes subglobose; ca. 5 mm; 5– or 6–ribbed when dry; pedicels 3–6 mm. Seeds laterally compressed.

Ploidy: 2n = 24*

Habitat: Along stream banks; wet forests; sometimes epiphytic.

Elevation Range: below 900 m.