Corynocarpaceae

Abstract

Evergreen, glabrous trees; branches often in pseudowhorls. Leaves alternate, more or less crowded towards the ends of the shoots, simple, entire, shining; stipules intrapetiolar, subtending the axillary bud, caducous. Inflorescences terminal or sometimes axillary umbellate thyrses. Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or plants gynodioecious, 5-merous, diplostemonous, with a shallow receptacular cup; sepals distinct, unequal, quincuncially arranged, fleshy, persistent, petaloid; petals distinct, cochlear; staminodes 5, antesepalous, small, petal-like, with pointed tip, irregularly dissected, with a large, cushion-like nectary on the ventral base; fertile stamens 5, attached to base of petals; anthers dorsifixed, tetrasporangiate and dithecal, dehiscing lengthwise, introrse; gynoecium (pseudo-?)monomerous, ascidiate; ovary superior; style solitary (occasionally 2 stylodia present); stigma capitate; ovule 1 per locule, pendulous, anatropous, bitegmic, crassinucellar; placentation median, apical. Fruit a drupe. Seed with membranous testa, exalbuminous, very poisonous; the embryo large, straight, containing oil and starch; cotyledons plano-convex. n = 23.