Synaptolepis

Small shrubs or woody climbers; branches slender, often twining; bark lenticellate. Leaves alternate or opposite, petiolate, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, membranous to coriaceous, glabrous, lateral nerves parallel, spreading, prominent beneath, margin thickened. Inflorescences: terminal cymes or axillary. Flowers 5-merous, solitary or fascicled in leaf axils, bracteate; pedicel sometimes glandular. Calyx: tube cylindric, glabrous. Petals forming an erect, entire or lobed, often ciliate ring at base of calyx lobes. Stamens 10, in 2 whorls in upper part of calyx tube, episepalous whorl usually slightly exserted. Disc minute, +/- deeply lobed. Ovary 1-locular, shortly stipitate; style slender; stigma capitate, papillate. Fruit dry, ovoid, enclosed in persistent base of calyx tube. Seeds without endosperm; embryo with fleshy cotyledons.