Shrubs or trees with copious
milky latex. Branches cylindric, ± fleshy. Stipules consisting of small conspicuous dark brown glands. Leaves
alternate, fleshy. Inflorescence composed of sessile cyathia in dichotomously branching axillary cymes, usually crowded into
pseudumbels at the branch apices; bracts paired, persistent. Cyathium with entire glandular rim and 5 fringed lobes.
Male flowers in 5 groups, bracteolate. Female flower shortly stalked, elongating in fruit; ovary 3-locular; styles 3 with 2-fid stigmas.
Fruit a 3-lobed, dehiscent, capsule. Seeds with a sessile, often rudimentary, caruncle. Worldwide: 14 species in east and southern tropical Africa Zimbabwe: 2 taxa. |
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