Description:
Hermaphroditic, unarmed, mostly glabrous, terrestrial, hemi-epiphytic or epiphytic, evergreen trees or rarely lianas. Stems sparsely to well branched or plants monocaulous. Leaves alternate, petiolate (rarely sessile), the bases clasping with connate, ligulate stipules; blades palmately compound (rarely unifoliolate); leaflets lanceolate, ovate, elliptical, oblanceolate, or obovate, coriaceous or subcoriaceous to membranaceous, the margins entire, crenate, toothed or incised, the apex acute to acuminate or caudate (rarely rounded). Inflorescence terminal, erect, paniculate or compound-umbellate, the ultimate units racemose, spicate, umbellate or capitate; bracts thin (rarely lacking); pedicels slender to stout, unarticulated, or flowers sessile. Calyx forming a low rim or with small lobes; petals 5–8, valvate, free or calyptrate; stamens isomerous with petals; carpels 5–9, ovary inferior, styles free or partially to mostly connate basally to forming a stylopodium or column. Fruits drupes, glabrous, globose, ellipsoid, urceolate, ovoid or obovoid; endocarps crustaceous to boney. Endosperm uniform.
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