Description: Trees, monoecious; indumentum of simple hairs.
Leaves alternate, paripinnate; leaflets opposite or alternate, margins entire, leathery, usually prominently veined and often densely reticulate; domatia commonly present.
Inflorescences a panicle, axillary or ramiflorous. Flowers unisexual. Calyx cupular, mostly 5-toothed. Petals 0–5, usually clawed, scales crestless. Disc annular. Stamens 7–9. Ovary 3-locular, stalked; ovule 1 per loculus; style persistent.
Fruit a capsule, slightly fleshy, loculicidally dehiscent, 3-valved, ± obovoid and tapering into basal stipe; valves crustaceous to ± woody when dried; usually only 1 seed develops, aril almost completely enclosing seed.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 15 species, Australia, Malesia. Australia: 9 species (7 species endemic), Qld, N.S.W.
Text by G.J. Harden
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Young branchlets, buds, peduncles, petioles and veins on lower leaf surfaces rusty-pubescent; leaflets 2 or rarely 4 | Mischocarpus lachnocarpus |
| Plants glabrous or with pale brown hairs; leaflets either 4 or more or if 2 then leaflets glabrous | 2 |
| 2 | Leaflets 4–8, petiolules 6–25 mm long; domatia always absent; arils orange | Mischocarpus pyriformis |
| Leaflets 2or 4, petiolules less than 6 mm long; domatia usually present, but sometimes small and inconspicuous; arils purple
Back to 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Domatia prominent, most leaflets with 1–3 large hairless domatia | Mischocarpus anodontus |
| Domatia if present small and inconspicuous
Back to 2 | Mischocarpus australis |
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