8197.000 Hymenodictyon Wall.

Shrubs or trees. Stipules interpetiolar. Leaves opposite, petiolate, deciduous. Domatia present. Inflorescence a spike or elongated head, composed of numerous 1-3-flowered cymes in the axils of secondary bracts. Flowers bisexual. Calyx of 5(-6) unequal lobes. Corolla funnel-shaped or campanulate with 5 erect lobes. Style well exserted. Ovary 2-locular. Fruit a dehiscent, strongly lenticellate capsule, splitting into 2 valves. Seeds broadly winged, the wing 2-fid at the base.

Derivation of name: from Greek: hymen meaning a membrane, diktyon, a net, referring to a net-like membrane surrounding the seed.

Worldwide: 20 species in the Old World.

Burundi: 1 taxon.