21. Friesodielsia Steenis, Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg, sér. 3. 17: 458. 1948.
尖花藤属 jian hua teng shu
Authors: Bingtao Li & Michael G. Gilbert
Polyalthia sect. Oxymitra Blume, Fl. Javae, Annonaceae, 71. 1830; Oxymitra (Blume) J. D. Hooker & Thomson (1855), not Bischoff ex Lindenberg (1829).
Climbers [rarely trees], with simple hairs. Inflorescences leaf-opposed, extra-axillary, or superaxillary, 1-flowered, bracteate. Flowers (not known for only Chinese species) bisexual. Sepals 3, valvate, ± connate at base. Petals 6, in 2 whorls, free, valvate; outer petals flat or 3-ridged, long and narrow, leathery, basally broadened and concave; inner petals much shorter than outer, ovate, lanceolate, or oblong, narrowed at base and often with a gap between petals, cohering to cover stamens and carpels. Stamens many; connectives apically enlarged and concealing anther locules, apex truncate. Carpels many, oblong; ovules 1-5 per carpel, lateral; styles clavate. Fruit apocarpous; monocarps stipitate, subglobose [or globose to ellipsoid-cylindric], moniliform when more than 1-seeded; epicarp thin to thick. Seed usually 1 per monocarp, subglobose.
About 50-60 species: Old World tropics; one species (endemic) in China.
There has been considerable confusion between Friesodielsia and the genus Richella A. Gray. Recent accounts (e.g. Kessler in Kubitzki, Fam. Gen. Fl. Pl. 2: 119. 1993) have restricted Richella to just 2 or 3 species, which molecular studies (Nakkuntod et al., Taxon 58: 127-132. 2009) show to be most closely related to Goniothalamus. Most species previously placed within Richella are now placed in Friesodielsia.
