Berlinianche

Small parasites of trees in family Fabaceae (Leguminosae), vegetatively much reduced, only flowers emerging on smaller branches of host. Flowers many, involucrate, globose, ovoid or ellipsoid, unisexual by abortion. Perianth segments 4-12, free, similar to bracts, imbricate, persistent, enclosing an annular disc at base. Male flowers: stamen filaments connate into a tube about a central column (pistillode); pistillode (and gynandroecial column) expanded apically into a disc (pileus) fringed with papillae; anthers sessile, 1-several-seriate below pileus rim. Female flowers: ovary inferior, surmounted by a fleshy disc; disc flat, concave or convex, sometimes appearing as a simple extension of style; style short, thick, conical or cylindrical; stigma capitate, stigmatic surface hemispherical or a subapical annular ring. Berry globose, surrounded by persistent bracts and perianth segments.