Unona sect. Dasymaschalon J. D. Hooker & Thomson, Fl. Ind. 1: 134. 1855.

Small trees [rarely climbers], indument of simple hairs. Petiole short; leaf blade venation arcuately looped near margin. Inflorescences axillary, 1-flowered. Flowers bisexual. Sepals 3, valvate. Petals (2 or)3, in 1 whorl alternate with sepals, valvate, apically connivent to form a mitriform dome (floral chamber) over reproductive organs and often with very small basal apertures between petals. Stamens many; connectives apically truncate or apiculate; pollen inaperturate, in monads. Carpels many, free; ovary densely hairy; ovules 1 to many per carpel. Fruit apocarpous; monocarps stipitate, ellipsoid when 1-seeded or moniliform when more than 1-seeded, fleshy, with a terminal apiculus. Seeds 1-6 per monocarp, globose or ellipsoid.

Dasymaschalon was included within Desmos in FRPS (30(2): 45-53. 1979) but is supported by molecular studies and is easily distinguished morphologically by the absence of an inner whorl of petals (J. Wang et al., Syst. Bot. 34: 252-265. 2009).

About 30 species: tropical and subtropical Asia; six species (two endemic) in China.

(Authors: Li Bingtao (李秉滔 Li Ping-tao); Wang Jing (王静), Richard M. K. Saunders)