Putranjivaceae

Dioecious trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, alternate (in ours); leaf base often asymmetrical; margins entire or toothed; sometimes aromatic (mustard or peppery odour); stipules small. Inflorescence axillary fascicles or solitary flowers, sometimes cauliflorous in Drypetes. Flowers unisexual; actinomorphic. Perianth 1-whorled imbricate, often unequal. Ovary superior; carpels fused. Fruit a green to brown drupe, sometimes with stellate hairs.

Comment: This small family until recently formed the tribe Drypeteae of the subfamily Phyllanthoideae in Euphorbiaceae sensu lato.

Worldwide: 3 genera and c. 215 species in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Zimbabwe: 1 genus and 5 taxa.