TILIACEAE  

Shrubs or small trees. Leaves 3- or 5-nerved at base, oblanceolate to obovate or elliptic, acuminate, denticulate, stellate-tomentose, especially along nerves; stipules lanceolate-linear, caducous. Inflorescences: lateral or terminal umbellate cymes. Flowers bisexual, regular. Sepals 4, free, +/- apiculate. Petals 4, shorter than sepals, without glands at base, glabrous. Stamens many, all fertile, arranged in 4 groups opposite petals and fused at base; anthers oblong-linear, basifixed, dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary +/- 6-celled; ovules many, +/- parietal, anatropous; style filiform; stigma obtuse. Fruit capsular, 3-valvate, dehiscent, globular to ellipsoid, coriaceous, densely covered with prickles +/- half as long as fruit body. Seeds many, with endosperm.