Description: Shrubs or trees with milky latex, glabrous; monoecious or dioecious.
Leaves alternate with 2 glands at junction of petiole and lamina.
Inflorescence a spike or raceme, flowers clustered in axils of bracts; female inflorescences shorter than male. Perianth segments 2 or 3. Stamens 2 or 3, filaments basally fused. Ovary 2- or 3-locular, ovule solitary in each loculus; styles 3, linear, free.
Capsule 3-lobed. The milky latex is very irritant to the skin and can cause injury and blindness if applied to the eye.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 40 species, tropical Africa to Malesia & Australia. Australia: 3 species, Qld, N.S.W., N.T., W.A., tropical to E coast.
Text by T. A. James & G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Leaves obovate to broad-elliptic, thick, margins mostly entire, sometimes more or less toothed, rounded or shortly pointed at apex | Excoecaria agallocha |
| Leaves ovate to lanceolate, thin, mostly regularly toothed, sometimes crenate, apex drawn out to a blunt point | Excoecaria dallachyana |
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