Sapium

Trees or shrubs, usually with milky latex; monoecious, rarely dioecious. Leaves alternate, entire or remotely toothed; stipules 0. Inflorescence a terminal, bisexual spike with many male flowers above and few basal female flowers, bracteate; bracts sometimes with 2 or 3 glands on either side at base. Petals 0. Disc 0. Male flowers: calyx 2- or 3(4)-lobed; stamens 2 or 3(4); filaments free; pistil absent. Female flowers long-pedicellate; calyx 2- or 3(4)-lobed; ovary (2)3(4)-locular, with 1 ovule in each locule; styles (2)3(4), free or slightly connate at base, sometimes spreading around ovary. Fruit a capsule, often woody, (2)3(4)-coccous, globose, often wrinkled; cocci bivalved or subindehiscent or bacciform; endocarp smooth or cornute, often coriaceous; endocarp woody or crustaceous, thick or thin; columella generally persistent. Seeds (1)2 or 3(4) per fruit, globose or ellipsoid, rarely carunculate; sarcotesta thin or fleshy; endotesta crustaceous; albumen fleshy; cotyledons broad, flat. x = 11 (10) (high polyploidy, B-chromosomes).