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Neotropical Euphorbiaceae s.l.
Philyra
SUMMARY
Small tree or slender shrub, dioecious. Exudate absent*. Armed, with paired straight spines often arising below stipules. Glabrous throughout or indumentum present (mostly on new growth and inflorescences), hairs simple. Stipules free*, simple, unlobed, entire *, rigid, chaffy, not leaf-like*, without glands. Leaves distributed evenly along stem, alternate, simple, unlobed, base symmetrical, margin entire, blade not pellucid-punctate; leaf glands absent; venation pinnate; domatia absent*; stipel-like appendages absent*; smelling strongly of curry-powder when dried. Petiole present, without swellings or bends at base or apex*, without glands. Inflorescence with axis, axillary, racemose, male inflorescence congested, dense flowered, female lax, few-flowered; bracts not leaf-like*, green; pedicels present, articulated. Male flowers: sepals 5, valvate, partially fused, greenish; petals 5, glabrous, greenish; disc glands 5, fused to the base of the androphore, stamens usually 15 (sometimes appearing as 7–9), in 3 whorls on the androphore, lower and middle whorls normal, upper all or partly staminodal (usually 15 but 7–9 by misconception), partially fused, free parts short; anther without conspicuous modification, thecae introrse in bud; pistillode absent. Female flowers: pedicels elongate; sepals 5, imbricate, free, greenish; petals 5, glabrous, greenish; disc 0; ovary stalked, locules 3, ovules per locule 1; styles 3, partially fused, much branched above, styles or stigmas not flat*, surface smooth*; staminodes absent. Fruit dehiscent, strongly veined, hairy, greenish to brown; seed without appendage, covering or membraneous layer*, not fleshy; embryo flat, not minute, cotyledons leaf-like.
An asterisk * indicates a state has been assumed but not yet confirmed.
World Checklist: 1 species: Philyra brasiliensis.