1	Leaves brochidodromous (without a distinct fimbrial vein, secondary veins arching near margin); drupes 1-locular; seeds ellipsoid with longitudinal groove (B. subg. Gentilia (Beille) Jablonsky)		(2)
+	Leaves craspedodromous (with a distinct fimbrial vein with secondary veins joining it); drupes 2-locular; seeds plano-convex (B. subg. Bridelia)		(3)
2 (1)	Flowers pedicelled, many (up to 50); branchlets, abaxial surface of leaves, and petioles usually pubescent; leaves membranous or papery, stipules more than 3.5 mm.		6 B. glauca
+	Flowers (sub)sessile, fewer (up to 12); branchlets, leaves, and petioles glabrous; leaves stiffly papery or nearly leathery, margin often slightly revolute, stipules less than 3.5 mm.		7 B. balansae
3 (1)	Woody lianas or scandent shrubs; calyx usually more than 6 mm in diam..		1 B. stipularis
+	Shrubs or trees; calyx usually less than 6 mm in diam		(4)
4 (3)	Lateral veins in more than 15 pairs; inflorescence usually terminal, spikelike without normal leaves.		2 B. retusa
+	Lateral veins in less than 15 pairs; inflorescence axillary, subtended by normal leaves		(5)
5 (4)	Lateral veins usually 5-8 pairs; small sparingly branched shrubs; leaves broadly elliptic or slightly obovate, small, drying blackish.		3 B. parvifolia
+	Lateral veins usually more than 8 pairs; erect shrubs or treelets; leaves lanceolate-elliptic, sometimes broadly elliptic, drying brownish and conspicuously bicolored with a lighter glaucous abaxial surface		(6)
6 (5)	Calyx usually less than 4 mm in diam., greenish; leaf blade thinly papery; young branches often "whip-like" drooping.		4 B. tomentosa
+	Calyx usually more than 4 mm in diam., reddish; leaf blade stiffly papery.		5 B. affinis