Omphalea
Trees, shrubs or climbers, monoecious. Exudate (from cut stems) present, red. Unarmed*. Indumentum present, hairs simple. Stipules free*, simple, unlobed, entire *, not spine-like*, not leaf-like*, without glands. Leaves distributed evenly along stem, alternate, simple, unlobed or lobed, margin entire, base symmetrical, blade not pellucid-punctate, 2-glandular at leaf base (lower surface) or petiole apex; with 3 – 7 strong veins from base or venation pinnate; domatia absent*; stipel-like structures absent*. Petiole present or absent (leaves sessile), often long, without swellings or bends at base or apex*. Inflorescence with axis, terminal, with or before current leaves, spike-, raceme- or panicle-like, bisexual, bracts leaf- or petal-like, glandular or not, green; pedicels present, not articulated*. Male flowers: sepals 4–5; imbricate or not, free, greenish; petals 0; disc glands 5, outside the staminal whorl (extrastaminal), free or fused into a cone or ring, or disc glands 0; stamens 2–3, completely fused; anthers free or fused into a peltate mass, thecae extrorse in bud; pistillode absent. Female flowers: sepals 4–5; imbricate or not, free, greenish; petals 0; disc 0; ovary locules 2–3, ovules per locule 1; styles completely fused, style column entire or shortly lobed, styles or stigmas not flat*, surface smooth*; staminodes absent. Fruit dehiscent or indehiscent, not sculptured*, greenish to brown; seed without appendage, covering or membraneous layer*, not fleshy; embryo not minute, cotyledons leaf-like.
An asterisk * indicates a state has been assumed but not yet confirmed.
World Checklist: about 20 spp.
Distribution: Mexico; Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama; Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Trinidad–Tobago, Windward Is.; Southern America: French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil.
Also in East Tropical Africa, Tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific.