10. Homalium sect. Symphyostylium Warb.

in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. III(6a): 35. 1893.

Typus: Homalium africanum (Hook. f.) Benth. (designated by Sleumer, 1973: 265).

Stipules axillary, free. Inflorescences racemose (to spicate) or paniculate; bracts generally small and caducous (rarely large or small but persistent), bracteoles usually very small (rarely broad), rapidly caducous. Flowers pedicellate, with pedicels usually short and articulate, to subsessile; perianth (4-)5-6(- 8)-merous. Sepals small, narrowly deltoid to lanceolate, ovate, or subulate, acute, very little to moderately accrescent; calyx tube funnelform, in fruit cup-shaped; sepal glands elliptical (to irregularly oblong-elliptical, sometimes shallowly bilobed, or nearly orbicular). Petals oblanceolate to obovate, usually much larger than sepals, ascending to spreading, at least moderately accrescent; sepals and petals not ciliate or ciliolate in conjunction with similar overall surface pubescence. Stamens 1 per petal, inserted between glands; anthers dorsifixed, broadly oblong-elliptical (sometimes quite small) with oblong-elliptical locules and a large connective, the slits of dehiscence nearly parallel. Upper surface of ovary nearly flat to modestly conical or convex, especially in fruit; styles fused into a column for usually more than half of length (in H. stipulaceum free to near base and short), the branches 3-5 (abnormally to 6 in H. stipulaceum). Locule of fruit broadly ellipsoid (to somewhat rhomboid in longitudinal section), sparsely to moderately pubescent; immature seeds usually 10 or more per fruit, small (3-4-seeded or occasionally 1 seed largely filling locule; it is not clear whether all seeds in many-seeded fruits may mature).

Distribution. – Africa.

Species included. – Homalium africanum, H. dalzielii Hutch., H. dewevrei De Wild. & T. Durand, H. elegantulum Sleumer, H. gracilipes Sleumer, H. henriquesii Gilg, H. hypolasium Mildbr., H. lastoursvillense Pellegr., H. letestui Pellegr., H. longistylum Mast., H. ogoouense Pellegr., H. oubanguiense Tisser., H. smythei Hutch. & Dalziel, H. stipulaceum, H. viridiflorum Exell.