Aistopetalum

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Aistopetalum

Description

Tall trees. Leaves opposite and decussate, imparipinnate, 1-2(-3)-jugate with lateral leaflets subopposite, the terminal leaflets generally larger than the lateral ones, and upper lateral leaflets larger than lower ones, occasionally unifoliolate; Stipules interpetiolar, one pair per node, early caducous. Inflorescence axillary, paniculate, with opposite branching pattern to outermost extremities, many-flowered, with small caducous bracts. Flowers bisexual, 4-7(-8)-merous, apetalous, with short pedicel gradually widening into discoid receptacle. Sepals valvate, coriaceous. Stamens with subulate filaments and anthers ovoid or cordate. Ovary superior, syncarpous, with as many carpels as sepals, truncated-conical, each cell with one ovule; Fruit a drupe with dry-leathery exocarp and woody endocarp, the styles remaining as protruding small horns or sometimes hardly noticeable around central-apical depression. Seeds 4-8, oblong.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present
Malesia: 2 species in New Guinea; not recorded from any of the surrounding islands.

Ecology

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Citation

Hutch. 1967 – In: Gen. Flow. Pl. Dicot.: 8
L.M. Perry 1949 – In: J. Arnold Arbor. 30: 158
Engl. 1928: p. 239. – In: Nat. Pflanzenfam., ed. 2: f. 138
Hoogland 1960: p. 333. – In: Austral. J. Bot.: f. 5, 6