5. Homalium sect. Nisa (Noronha ex Thouars) Baill. ex Warb.

in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. III(6a): 36. 1893.

÷ Nisa Noronha ex Thouars, Gen. Nov. Madagasc.: 24. 1806. ÷ Homalium [unranked as §] Nisa (Noronha ex Thouars) Baill. in Bull. Mens. Soc. Linn. Paris 1: 575. 1886.

Typus: Homalium nudiflorum (DC.) Baill. (÷ Nisa nudiflora DC.) (designated by Sleumer, 1973: 295).

Stipules opposite the petiole base and fused (in H. intercedens Sleumer axillary, free). Inflorescences spicate; bract and bracteoles large, broad, thick-textured, persistent. Flowers sessile (rarely subsessile); perianth 5-6(-7)-merous. Sepals obovate to oblanceolate (to nearly ligulate), oblanceolateoblong or narrowly elliptical, or ovate to oblong-ovate), spreading, accrescent; calyx tube short, broadly funnelform to cup-shaped, or in fruit hemispherical; sepal glands large, elliptical to elongated oblong-elliptical or roughly trapezoid. Petals ovate to oblong, usually smaller than sepals and curving over fruit (in H. louvelianum similar in size and spreading), accrescent; sepals and petals not ciliate or ciliolate in conjunction with overall surface pubescence). Stamens 1 per petal, inserted between glands; anthers dorsifixed, broadly oblongelliptical with oblong-elliptical locules and a large connective, the slits of dehiscence nearly parallel. Upper surface of ovary often nearly flat in flower, in fruit becoming hemispherical or broadly conical; styles fused basally into a short but distinct column (rarely fused for most of length), the branches 3-4. Locule of fruit subglobose or vertically compressed, glabrous (short-pubescent); seeds 1 per fruit, subglobose, largely filling the locule (or several small immature seeds).

Distribution. – Madagascar.

Species included. – Homalium intercedens, H. louvelianum, H. nudiflorum, H. stelliferum H. Perrier.