The World Flora Online

Plantes'ligneuses, parfois dioïques, inermes ou à épines axillaires.'Feuilles'opposées, simples, ± scléreuses, à stipules petites et persistantes ou caduques.'Inflorescences'axillaires ou terminales, en glomérules, épis, racèmes ou panicules, pourvues de bractées.'Fleurs'petites, ☿ ou ♂♀ par avortement, actinomorphes, 4-5-mères, tétracycliques, courtement pédicellées; bractéoles parfois présentes; calice gamosépale, à 4-5 lobes à préfloraison imbriquée ou valvaire; corolle à 4-5 pétales libres ou légèrement soudés à la base, à préfloraison imbriquée ou contortee; androcée à 4-5 étamines alternipétales, à filets libres ou soudés en tube à la base, à anthères 2-loculaires et déhiscentes par fentes longitudinales; disque représenté par des glandes ± triangulaires et alternant avec les étamines ou absent; gynécée à 2 carpelles soudés; ovaire supère, 1-2-loculaire, à 1 ou 2 ovules basilaires et dresses par loge; style 1, court; stigmate entier ou bifide.'Fruits'petits : baies ou drupes à endocarpe mince, 1-4-spermes.'Graines dressées, exalbummées; embryons à cotylédons épais et cordiformes.\n\t\t\tPetite famille comprenant 3 genres et ± 12 espèces paléotropicales. Au Congo belge, 1 genre et 1 espèce.

Leaves opposite, simple; stipules minute Flowers in dense axillary fascicles or panicles, hermaphrodite or dioecious, actinomorphic Petals 4, free or shortly united, imbricate Calyx 3–4-toothed Disk absent or of separate glands Stamens 4, inserted on or near the base of the petals and alternate with them; anthers 2-celled, opening lengthwise Ovules 1–2, erect Ovary superior, 1–2-celled; style short Seed erect, without endosperm; embryo with thick cordate cotyledons Fruit a berry or drupe Trees or shrubs, sometimes with axillary spines Flowers in dense axillary fascicles or panicles, hermaphrodite or dioecious, actinomorphic Petals 4, free or shortly united, imbricate Calyx 3–4-toothed Disk absent or of separate glands Stamens 4, inserted on or near the base of the petals and alternate with them; anthers 2-celled, opening lengthwise Ovules 1–2, erect Ovary superior, 1–2-celled; style short Seed erect, without endosperm; embryo with thick cordate cotyledons Fruit a berry or drupe Trees or shrubs, sometimes with axillary spines

Trees or shrubs, unarmed or with axillary spines Leaves usually coriaceous, opposite, simple Stipules minute or absent Inflorescence of dense axillary or terminal fascicles or panicles Flowers mostly 4–merous, bisexual or dioecious, actinomorphic Calyx–lobes 2–4 Stamens 4, epipetalous or inserted at base of petals and alternate with them Petals 4, imbricate, free or partially joined Ovary 1–2–locular; style short; ovules 1–2, erect Anthers 2–thecous; thecae opening by longitudinal slits Seeds without endosperm; embryo with thick cordate cotyledons Fruit a berry or drupe Leaves usually coriaceous, opposite, simple Stipules minute or absent Inflorescence of dense axillary or terminal fascicles or panicles Flowers mostly 4–merous, bisexual or dioecious, actinomorphic Calyx–lobes 2–4 Stamens 4, epipetalous or inserted at base of petals and alternate with them Petals 4, imbricate, free or partially joined Ovary 1–2–locular; style short; ovules 1–2, erect Anthers 2–thecous; thecae opening by longitudinal slits Seeds without endosperm; embryo with thick cordate cotyledons Fruit a berry or drupe

Small trees or shrubs, sometimes scandent, glabrous or white tomentose, unarmed or with axillary spines (Azima). Stipules minute or absent. Leaves opposite, simple, entire, usually thickly leathery or almost succulent. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, paniculate or fasciculate. Flowers small, bisexual or unisexual, actinomorphic. Calyx campanulate or ovoid, 3- or 4-toothed or 4-fid. Petals 4, imbricate in bud, free or shortly united at base [Salvadora]. Stamens 4, inserted on corolla tube or at base, alternate with petals; filaments filiform or base dilated, free or basally united or adnate to corolla base; anthers ovoid, dorsifixed, 2-locular, back-to-back; connectives often in an apical mucro, dehiscing longitudinally. Disk absent or represented by 4 separate scale-shaped glands alternate with filaments. Ovary superior, 1- or 2-locular or imperfectly 4-locular; ovules 1 or 2 per locule, erect, anatropous; style short; stigma 2-fid or obtuse and undivided. Fruit an indehiscent berry or drupe; endocarp membranous or papery. Seeds commonly solitary, erect, globose or compressed, with a thin or cartilaginous testa, endosperm absent; cotyledons thick, base cordate; radicle straight.

Petals 4(–5), imbricate, free or partially connate Stamens 4(–5), epipetalous or inserted near base of petals and alternate with them; filaments free or connate at base Anthers 2-thecous; thecae back to back, opening by longitudinal slits Disk absent or consisting of separate glands between the filaments Trees or shrubs, unarmed or with axillary spines Leaves mostly coriaceous, opposite, simple, entire; stipules minute or absent Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or dioecious, in dense axillary or terminal fascicles or panicles Calyx-lobes 2–4(–5) Fruit a berry or drupe Seeds without endosperm; embryo with thick cordate cotyledons Ovary superior, 1–2-locular; style short; ovules 1–2, erect Stamens 4(–5), epipetalous or inserted near base of petals and alternate with them; filaments free or connate at base Anthers 2-thecous; thecae back to back, opening by longitudinal slits Disk absent or consisting of separate glands between the filaments Trees or shrubs, unarmed or with axillary spines Leaves mostly coriaceous, opposite, simple, entire; stipules minute or absent Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or dioecious, in dense axillary or terminal fascicles or panicles Calyx-lobes 2–4(–5) Fruit a berry or drupe Seeds without endosperm; embryo with thick cordate cotyledons Ovary superior, 1–2-locular; style short; ovules 1–2, erect