Balanopaceae

Balanopaceae, family of dicotyledonous flowering plants in the order Malpighiales, containing a single genus (Balanops) and nine species of trees and shrubs that have simple, alternately positioned or somewhat whorled leaves. The plants are further characterized by flowers that lack showy parts (sepals and petals). The male and female flowers occur on separate plants (i.e., the plants are dioecious), the male in catkins (elongated, dangling clusters) and the female solitary. Each female flower consists of...