4388.000 Alchornea Sw.

Dioecious, sometimes monoecious, trees or shrubs. Indumentum simple. Leaves simple, alternate, with or without stipels. Male flowers in clusters; calyx closed in bud, later splitting into 2-5 valvate lobes; disk 0; petals 0; anthers 2-thecous; stamens 8 or fewer. Female flowers usually 1 per bract; sepals (3-)4(-6); disk 0; petals 0; ovary 2-3-locular. Fruits 2-4-lobed, smooth or warty, splitting into 2-valved cocci.

Worldwide: 70 species, occurring in the tropics.

Zambia: 4 taxa.