SPHENOSTEMONACEAE
NB Synonym of Paracryphiaceae.
Morphological description
Woody, usually trees.
Leaves
Leaves simple, penninerved, exstipulate. Usually leaves subopposite or whorled, coriaceous, glandular dentate.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence.
Flowers
Flowers 4-merous, actino-morphic, bisexual; petals absent (in Malesia), disk absent, ovary superior, 2-celled, each with 1 apical ovule, sessile stigma.
Fruit
Fruit.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Guttiferae: yellow or milky sap, leaves entire. — Aquifoliaceae: petals present, ovary 3- to many-celled.
Distribution: The only genus, Sphenostemon, occurs in East Malesia (Moluccas, New Guinea), East Australia and New Caledonia; in Malesia 3 species, montane rain forest.
Notes: Sphenostemon has been placed in various families.
Literature: C.G.G.J. van Steenis, Fl. Males. I, 10 (1986) 145-149.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): 46, 88.
Illustrations: Fig. 160. Sphenostemon papuanus (Lauterb.) Steenis.
Image in Kew Plants of the World online for Sphenostemonaceae.