Key based on fruit characteristics

1	Fruit spindle shaped, hairy superior part of ovary usually visible between calyx lobes (subgen. Symplocos)		41 Symplocos pendula
+	Fruit not as above (not known in S. spectabilis) (subgen. Hopea (Linnaeus) C. B. Clarke).		(2)
2 (1)	Infructescences a terminal panicle; plant deciduous		40 Symplocos paniculata
+	Infructescences not terminal and generally not a panicle; plant evergreen.		(3)
3 (2)	Leaf blade midvein adaxially prominent at least towards base or flat.		(4)
+	Leaf blade midvein adaxially impressed.		(8)
4 (3)	Twigs and terminal buds glabrous; bracts and bractlets glabrous		1 Symplocos lucida
+	Twigs (at least when young) and terminal buds hairy; bracts and bractlets hairy.		(5)
5 (4)	Leaf blade abaxially glabrous		2 Symplocos anomala
+	Leaf blade abaxially hairy (under a hand lens) at least when young.		(6)
6 (5)	Leaf blade abaxially pubescent, adaxially hairy, base broadly cuneate to rounded		4 Symplocos groffii
+	Leaf blade abaxially minutely scattered hairy or appressed fine hairy, adaxially glabrous (or rarely sparsely fine hairy in S. lancifolia), base attenuate-cuneate or narrowly cuneate.		(7)
7 (6)	Fruit ellipsoid to subglobose; leaves evenly distributed; leaf blade abaxially appressed fine hairy, base attenuate-cuneate, intramarginal vein not close to margin; fruit 3--5 X 2--5 mm		27 Symplocos lancifolia
+	Fruit ovoid; leaves crowded at end of branchlets; leaf blade abaxially minutely scattered hairy, base narrowly cuneate, intramarginal vein close to margin; fruit 10--12 X 6--8 mm		3 Symplocos wikstroemiifolia
8 (3)	Infructescences a glomerule or fruit 1--3 in a leaf axil.		(9)
+	Infructescences a branched or unbranched spike or raceme.		(29)
9 (8)	Fruit 1--3 in a leaf axil.		(10)
+	Infructescences a glomerule or fascicle.		(12)
10 (9)	Petiole with 2 rows of glands; twigs pubescent to tomentose; bracts ca. 1 mm; fruit oblong		5 Symplocos euryoides
+	Petiole without glands or with few glands; twigs puberulent or patently pilose; bracts 2--4 mm; fruit ampulliform or ovoid.		(11)
11 (10)	Twigs puberulent; leaf blade abaxially glabrous, apex acute to rounded, reticulation obscure; fruit ovoid, ca. 5 mm wide		9 Symplocos nokoensis
+	Twigs patently pilose; leaf blade abaxially hairy at least when young, apex acuminate to caudate, reticulation distinct; fruit ampulliform, ca. 4 mm wide		6 Symplocos ovatilobata
12 (9)	Leaf blade adaxially hairy; fruit subglobose, ca. 5 mm		36 Symplocos dolichotricha
+	Leaf blade adaxially glabrous; fruit cylindrical, ellipsoid, ampulliform, narrowly ovoid, or ovoid, 6--20 mm.		(13)
13 (12)	Fruit ellipsoid, ampulliform, or ovoid.		(14)
+	Fruit cylindrical or narrowly ovoid.		(16)
14 (13)	Twigs glabrous; petiole 25--30 mm		42 Symplocos spectabilis
+	Twigs hairy; petiole 3--20 mm.		(15)
15 (14)	Fruit ellipsoid; twigs tomentose; petiole 1.5--2 cm; leaf blade abaxially woolly villous, base broadly cuneate, apex shortly acuminate to acute		35 Symplocos fukienensis
+	Fruit ovoid to ampulliform; twigs puberulent; petiole 0.3--0.5 cm; leaf blade abaxially appressed fine hairy, base cuneate to rounded, apex acuminate		16 Symplocos atriolivacea
16 (13)	Leaf blade margin with 6--12 glands per cm.		(17)
+	Leaf blade margin with less than 6 glands per cm.		(18)
17 (16)	Leaf blade elliptic to ovate, abaxially appressed fine hairy to tomentose, base broadly cuneate to rounded; fruit 2.5--3 mm wide		32 Symplocos adenopus
+	Leaf blade narrowly elliptic, abaxially with cobwebby hairs; base cuneate; fruit ca. 4 mm wide		30 Symplocos glandulifera
18 (16)	Leaf blade abaxially hairy (under a hand lens) at least when young.		(19)
+	Leaf blade abaxially glabrous.		(20)
19 (18)	Fruit ca. 1 cm; leaf blade abaxially not papillate and not glaucous, base broadly cuneate to rounded, intramarginal vein present		34 Symplocos ulotricha
+	Fruit 1.2--2 cm; leaf blade abaxially always papillate near base and glaucous, base cuneate, intramarginal vein absent		10 Symplocos glauca
20 (18)	Fruit 6--8 mm wide; calyx glabrous or hairy.		(21)
+	Fruit 2.5--5 mm wide; calyx glabrous or rarely woolly tomentose.		(22)
21 (20)	Leaf blade obovate, not glaucous abaxially; calyx glabrous		42 Symplocos spectabilis
+	Leaf blade narrowly elliptic or obovate, glaucous abaxially; calyx hairy		10 Symplocos glauca
22 (20)	Leaf blade narrowly elliptic to narrowly obovate.		(23)
+	Leaf blade elliptic or obovate.		(25)
23 (22)	Twigs puberulent		37 Symplocos austrosinensis
+	Twigs tomentellous or glabrous.		(24)
24 (23)	Leaf blade margin entire		33 Symplocos stellaris
+	Leaf blade margin glandular dentate to denticulate		31 Symplocos glomerata
25 (22)	Twigs hairy.		(26)
+	Twigs glabrous.		(27)
26 (25)	Leaf blade margin entire; disc flat, low cylindrical or annular, often glandular		38 Symplocos congesta
+	Leaf blade margin glandular dentate or denticulate; disc cylindrical		31 Symplocos glomerata
27 (25)	Leaf blade elliptic; disc cylindrical		31 Symplocos glomerata
+	Leaf blade obovate; disc flat, low cylindrical or annular, often 5-glandular		(28)
28 (27)	Petiole 2.5--3 cm		42 Symplocos spectabilis
+	Petiole 0.8--1.5 cm		39 Symplocos poilanei
29 (8)	Fruit sessile.		(30)
+	Fruit pedicellate.		(36)
30 (29)	Leaf blade abaxially glabrous.		(31)
+	Leaf blade abaxially hairy (under hand lens) at least when young.		(33)
31 (30)	Fruit ampulliform to globose		28 Symplocos cochinchinensis
+	Fruit cylindrical or narrowly ovoid.		(32)
32 (31)	Leaf blade obovate; terminal buds pubescent; infructescences 0.5--1.5 cm; bracts and bractlets persistent; bracts 2--3 mm; fruit 6--8 X ca. 3 mm		39 Symplocos poilanei
+	Leaf blade narrowly elliptic, elliptic, or ovate; terminal buds glabrous; infructescences 3--6 cm; bracts and bractlets under fruit early deciduous; bracts 1 mm; fruit 12--15 X 4--5 mm		13 Symplocos hainanensis
33 (30)	Petiole with 2 rows of glands; leaf blade abaxially and often also adaxially powdery puberulent, margin with 6--12 glands per cm; fruit cylindrical to ellipsoid		15 Symplocos adenophylla
+	Petiole without glands or with few glands; leaf blade abaxially not powdery puberulent, margin with less than 6 glands per cm; fruit ampulliform, ovoid, or subglobose.		(34)
34 (33)	Petiole 10--20 mm; infructescences 6--11 cm; bracts ca. 3 mm; calyx lobes 2 mm or more		28a var. cochinchinensis
+	Petiole 2--5 mm; infructescences 0.5--2 cm; bracts 1--2 mm; calyx lobes less than 2 mm.		(35)
35 (34)	Twigs puberulent; leaf blade abaxially appressed fine hairy, base cuneate to rounded, apex acuminate; bracts ca. 2 mm		16 Symplocos atriolivacea
+	Twigs villous; leaf blade abaxially pubescent, base cordate, apex caudate; bracts ca. 1 mm		8 Symplocos fordii
36 (29)	Leaf blade abaxially hairy at least when young.		(37)
+	Leaf blade abaxially glabrous.		(44)
37 (36)	Fruit ampulliform		11 Symplocos viridissima
+	Fruit cylindrical or ellipsoid.		(38)
38 (37)	Petiole with 2 rows of glands; twigs tomentellous to puberulent; leaf blade abaxially and often also adaxially powdery puberulent, margin of leaf 6--12 glands per cm		15 Symplocos adenophylla
+	Petiole without glands or with few glands; twigs pubescent, tomentose, or villous; leaf blade abaxially minutely scattered hairy, appressed fine hairy, tomentose, or spreading long pilose, margin with less than 6 glands per cm.		(39)
39 (38)	Leaf blade obovate, abaxially tomentose, base broadly cuneate		23b var. tomentosa
+	Leaf blade narrowly elliptic, elliptic, narrowly ovate, ovate, or narrowly obovate, abaxially minutely scattered hairy, pubescent, appressed fine hairy, or spreading long pilose, base attenuate-cuneate, rounded, or cordate.		(40)
40 (39)	Leaf blade abaxially spreading long pilose; bracts and bractlets persistent		26 Symplocos pilosa
+	Leaf blade abaxially minutely scattered hairy, pubescent, or appressed fine hairy; bracts and bractlets under fruit early deciduous.		(41)
41 (40)	Fruit ca. 3 cm		18 Symplocos xylopyrena
+	Fruit 0.7--1.2 cm.		(42)
42 (41)	Twigs tomentose to villous; leaf blade reticulation fine		25 Symplocos sulcata
+	Twigs pubescent; leaf blade reticulation coarse.		(43)
43 (42)	Leaf blade abaxially pubescent; bracts and bractlets hairy		21 Symplocos racemosa
+	Leaf blade abaxially appressed fine hairy; bracts and bractlets glabrous or subglabrous		17 Symplocos ramosissima
44 (36)	Fruit oblong, ovoid-oblong, ampulliform, ovoid, or subglobose.		(45)
+	Fruit cylindrical, ellipsoid, narrowly ovoid, or obovoid.		(50)
45 (44)	Leaf blade narrowly elliptic or narrowly obovate.		(46)
+	Leaf blade elliptic or ovate.		(47)
46 (45)	Leaf blade base narrowly cuneate, lateral veins 3--5 pairs; shrubs		29 Symplocos paucinervia
+	Leaf blade base cuneate, lateral veins 9--14 pairs; trees		14 Symplocos heishanensis
47 (45)	Bracts and bractlets under fruit early deciduous.		(48)
+	Bracts and bractlets persistent.		(49)
48 (47)	Leaf blade reticulation obscure; shrubs		19 Symplocos modesta
+	Leaf blade reticulation distinct; trees		7 Symplocos sumuntia
49 (47)	Infructescences 3--7 cm; terminal buds glabrous; bracts and bractlets glabrous		12 Symplocos pseudobarberina
+	Infructescences 0.8--2 cm; terminal buds pubescent; bracts and bractlets hairy		11 Symplocos viridissima
50 (44)	Leaf blade 5.1--10 cm wide.		(51)
+	Leaf blade 1--4.5 cm wide.		(52)
51 (50)	Leaf blade 15--25 cm		23 Symplocos hookeri
+	Leaf blade 6--14.5 cm		22 Symplocos crassilimba
52 (50)	Leaf blade lateral veins 3--5 pairs.		(53)
+	Leaf blade lateral veins 6--13 pairs.		(54)
53 (52)	Leaf blade base narrowly cuneate, intramarginal vein close to margin; bracts and bractlets hairy		29 Symplocos paucinervia
+	Leaf blade base cuneate to rounded, intramarginal vein not close to margin; bracts and bractlets glabrous to subglabrous		17 Symplocos ramosissima
54 (52)	Fruit cylindrical or narrowly ovoid.		(55)
+	Fruit ellipsoid or obovoid.		(56)
55 (54)	Twigs glabrous but base of young twigs hairy between scars of bud scales; leaf blade reticulation fine; fruit 0.6--1 cm		24 Symplocos pyrifolia
+	Twigs glabrous; leaf blade reticulation coarse; fruit 1.2--1.5 cm		13 Symplocos hainanensis
56 (54)	Twigs glabrous but base of young twigs hairy between scars of bud scales; bracts and bractlets hairy.		(57)
+	Twigs glabrous or hairy at least when young; bracts and bractlets glabrous or subglabrous.		(58)
57 (56)	Leaf blade narrowly elliptic, reticulation fine; infructescences ca. 4 cm		24 Symplocos pyrifolia
+	Leaf blade elliptic to narrowly obovate, reticulation coarse; infructescences 6--9 cm		20 Symplocos dryophila
58 (56)	Fruit ca. 3 cm		18 Symplocos xylopyrena
+	Fruit 0.9--2 cm.		(59)
59 (58)	Leaf blade reticulation fine; fruit 6--8 mm wide		22 Symplocos crassilimba
+	Leaf blade reticulation coarse; fruit 4--5 mm wide		17 Symplocos ramosissima