Monoecious, less often dioecious, trees or shrubs. Stipules 0. Leaves opposite or subopposite, coriaceous. Inflorescences (in ours) axillary, solitary or paired racemes or panicles, tomentose. Flowers (in ours) unisexual, actinomorphic. perianth 4-many-lobed; lobes in 2-several whorls. Stamens few-numerous. Ovary superior with 1 carpel (in ours). Fruit of drupes, enclosed in a fleshy receptacle. Worldwide: 34 genera and 440 species in tropical and warm areas, especially in the southern hemisphere. Caprivi: 1 cultivated genus and 2 cultivated taxa. |
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