21. Baliospermum Bl., Bijdr. 603. 1825. Muell. Arg. inDC., Prodr. 15(2): 1125, 1866; Benth. & Hook. f., Gen. P1. 3(1): 324. 1880; Hook. f., H. Brit. Ind. 5: 461. 1887; Pax in Engl., Pflanzenreich 4. 147. 4: 24. 1912; Parker, For. Fl. Punj. 459. 1918; Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 445. 1972.
A. RADCLIFFE-SMITH
Monoecious or dioecious erect, few-branched shrubs, subshrubs or woody herbs with a simple indumentum. Leaves alternate, petiolate, stipulate, simple, sinuate-dentate or lobate, 3-5-nerved from the base, otherwise penninerved, with a pair of glands at the base of the lamina. Inflorescences axillary, unisexual or bisexual, racemose or paniculate, dense or lax, ♂ many-flowered, ♀ few-flowered. Male flowers: sepals (4-) 5(-6), ± orbicular, imbricate; petals 0; disc annular, lobate or composed of (4-) 5(-6) free glands; stamens 10-30, on a convex receptacle, the outer opposite the sepals, filaments free, anthers introrse, longitudinally dehiscent, connective broad; pistillode minute or 0. Female flowers: sepals 5-6, imbricate, sometimes toothed, sometimes accrescent ;petals 0; disc annular, entire; ovary 3-celled, with 1 ovule per cell; styles 3, stout, recurved, shortly bifid. Fruit trilobate, dehiscing septicidally and loculicidally into 6 valves; endocarp woody. Seeds ovoid, testa crustaceous, albumen fleshy; cotyledons broad, flat.
A genus of 7 species extending from Pakistan to China and Indonesia (Sumbawa). One species only in Pakistan.
