Spirostachys

Trees or shrubs, usually with milky latex; monoecious or dioecious. Leaves alternate, shortly petiolate, entire or remotely crenate, with 2 glands at junction of petiole; stipules small, caducous. Inflorescence axillary, sessile, spicate, with many male flowers above and a solitary or few basal, female flowers. Petals 0. Disc 0. Male flowers small, sessile; calyx (2-)5-lobed, free, imbricate; stamens 3; filaments free or united into a slender tube, exserted; pistillode 0. Female flowers small, shortly pedunculate; calyx 3-5-lobed, +/- free; ovary (2)3-locular, with 1 ovule in each locule, glabrous; styles (2)3, connate into a column, with lanceolate, entire lobes. Fruit a (2)3-coccous capsule, valves not separating immediately; exocarp smooth, not separating from endocarp; endocarp thinly crustaceous; columella persistent. Seeds globose or ovoid; caruncle minute, separating from seed and remaining adnate to columella; testa crustaceous; albumen fleshy; cotyledons broad, flat.