Adenia

Perennials, usually with tuber-like stem base giving rise to erect or climbing branches, sometimes spinose; dioecious, rarely monoecious. Leaves simple or digitately compound, with 1 or 2 glands at apex of petiole, sometimes with glands on underside of leaf; stipules acicular. Flowers unisexual, solitary or clustered or in cymes; sometimes peduncle ending in a tendril; corona a ring of hair-like processes, sometimes partly membranous, or a laciniate rim or 0. Male flowers: receptacle/hypanthium usually narrowly cylindric or cup- to saucer-shaped; sepals (4)5(6); lobes usually longer than tube; petals (4)5(6), arising in calyx tube or in sinuses, usually shorter than calyx lobes; glands 5 or 0; stamens free or connate, arising from calyx tube or centre of receptacle, usually shorter than petals; rudimentary ovary usually present. Female flowers: receptacle funnel-shaped; calyx lobed or segmented; petals 5 arising in calyx tube; glands present or 0; staminodes present, connate at base; ovary sessile or stipitate, usually ovoid, with several ovules on 3(-5) parietal placentas; style short or 0, 3(4)-branched; stigmas usually fleshy, papillate. Fruit a stipitate, 3(-5)-valved capsule; pericarp coriaceous to rather fleshy and hence fruit berry-like, reddish, yellowish, or brownish, sometimes as large as a hen's egg. Seeds usually compressed, with crustaceous, pitted testa. x = 6 (high polyploidy).