72. Neoshirakia Esser, Blumea. 43: 129. 1998.
白木乌桕属 bai mu wu jiu shu
Authors: Bingtao Li & Hans-Joachim (Hajo) Esser
Excoecaria sect. Parasapium Müller Argoviensis, Linnaea 32: 123. 1863; Shirakia Hurusawa (1954), not S. Kawasaki (1934).
Trees or shrubs, monoecious or sometimes one sex missing; indumentum absent; latex white. Leaves alternate; stipules long and conspicuous, caducous; petioles without glands; leaf blade margin entire, with an abaxial row of marginal glands below; venation pinnate. Inflorescences terminal or axillary, long racemelike thyrses, unbranched, apetalous, without disk; bracts with 2 large abaxial glands at base. Male flowers yellow, 3 per bract, pedicellate; calyx membranous, cup-shaped, 3-lobed; stamens 3; filaments free; anthers 2-celled, longitudinally dehiscent; pistillode absent. Female flowers larger than male, 1 per bract, pedicellate; calyx cup-shaped, 3-partite; ovary 3-celled, smooth; ovules one per cell; styles usually 3, free; stigma revolute, entire, eglandular. Fruit a capsule, pedicellate, globose, 3-valved, 3-celled, septicidally dehiscent. Seeds subglobose, dry; caruncle absent; central columella persistent; testa hard, without waxy aril; endosperm fleshy; cotyledon broad and flattened.
Two or three species: China, Japan, Korea; two species (one endemic) in China.
