Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Monoecious or dioecious trees or shrubs.

Stems: Stems with watery sap.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades coriaceous. Margins entire to serrate. Petiolate. Stipules present.

Flowers: Flowers in solitary or in small fascicles arranged in axillary raceme-like inflorescences; staminate flowers in fascicles; pistillate flowers usually solitary on the axis. Flowers unisexual. Calyx of staminate flowers 3–4-lobed, the lobes valvate. Calyx of pistillate flower (2)3(4)-lobed. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens in staminate flower numerous; pistillate flower stamens absent. Ovary superior (pistillate flowers), usually (2)3-celled; ovules 1 per cell; styles unlobed.

Fruit: Loculicidal capsules 2–3(4)–valved. Seeds globose; seed coat fleshy; often drying rugose.

Ploidy:

Habitat:

Elevation Range: