Bia  

Climber, monoecious. Exudate (from cut stems) absent. Unarmed. Indumentum present, hairs simple or stinging. Stipules free, simple, unlobed, entire, not spine-like, not leaf-like, without glands. Leaves distributed evenly along stem, alternate, simple, lobed or unlobed, toothed, base symmetrical, blade not pellucid-punctate, leaf glands 0; with 3–7 strong veins from base; domatia absent*; stipel-like structures absent*. Petiole present, without swellings or bends at base or apex, without glands. Inflorescence with axis, leaf-opposed or terminal, bi-racemose (a 2–branched raceme), with 5–30 female flowers on a basal branch, the rest male; bracts not glandular, sometimes leaf-like; pedicels present, articulated or not. Male flowers: sepals 3–5 , petals 0; disc absent, or present, outside the staminal whorl (extrastaminal) or disc lobes/glands randomly distributed among stamens, comprised of distinct parts (separate or adjacent); stamens 5 (rarely) –10+, free or partially fused; pistillode absent. Female flowers: sepals 5–6; petals 0; disc 0; ovary locules 3, ovules per locule 1; styles 3, partially fused, entire, surface papillose; staminodes absent. Fruit dehiscent, not sculptured, hairy; seed without appendage, covering or membraneous layer*, not fleshy.

An asterisk * indicates a state has been assumed but not yet confirmed.

World Checklist: 5 spp.

Bia was previously included in Tragia. See description of Tragia in Radcliffe-Smith (2001), which includes many references to Bia. With thanks to Lynn Gillespie (Canadian Museum of Nature) for help with Bia.