Brucea

Shrubs or small trees; at least younger parts +/- ferrugineous-pubescent or tomentose. Leaves often +/- crowded towards ends of branches, usually imparipinnate; leaflets opposite, in 3-5 pairs, entire to shallowly repand, base asymmetric. Inflorescence axillary, spiciform or in spiciform panicles, polygamous. Flowers usually in distant small glomerules. Sepals 4 or 5, united towards base, imbricate. Petals 4 or 5, free, imbricate. Stamens 4 or 5, arising beneath and between lobes of disc, reduced in female flowers. Disc fleshy, (3)4(5)-lobed. Gynoecium of 4 or 5 carpels, free or joined at base, each with 1 pendulous ovule; absent or vestigial in male flowers; styles 4 or 5, free. Fruit of drupaceous mericarps developing from 1-4 carpels of each flower. Seed 1 per mericarp.