Description: Trees, monoecious; new growth usually pubescent with simple hairs.
Leaves alternate, paripinnate, often drying dark brown; leaflets alternate, margins usually toothed, secondary veins prominent on lower surface.
Inflorescences axillary, usually dense panicles. Flowers unisexual. Calyx shortly tubular, 5-toothed. Petals 5, clawed, scales crestless. Disc cupular. Stamens 6–8. Ovary 3-locular, 1 ovule per loculus.
Fruit a capsule, obovoid to ± globose, 3-angular, loculicidally dehiscent, 3-valved; valves thick, drying woody; aril small.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 13 species, Philipp., Indon., Pacific islands, New Guinea, Australia. Australia: 4 species (endemic), Qld, N.S.W.
Text by G.J. Harden Taxon concept:
| Key to the species | |
1 | Domatia usually prominent; leaflets usually hairy, less than 3 times long as wide; capsules hairy | Elattostachys xylocarpa |
| Domatia absent; leaflets glabrous, more than 3 times long as wide; capsules more or less glabrous | Elattostachys nervosa |
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