Description: Shrubs or trees, usually dioecious, hairy or glabrous.
Leaves alternate, often dimorphic, paripinnate or rarely imparipinnate or simple (especially in juveniles); leaflets opposite or alternate, margins entire; petiole and rachis often winged, especially in juveniles. Panicles terminal or in upper axils.
Flowers usually unisexual. Sepals 5, imbricate, unequal. Petals 4 or 5, shortly-clawed; scales absent or 2-lobed and hairy, with or without crests. Disc variable. Stamens 8. Ovary 3-locular; ovule 1 per loculus.
Fruit divaricately 2- or 3-lobed, separating into indehiscent, 1-seeded, dorsally-winged samaras; aril absent.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 11 species, Africa, Indon., New Guinea, Australia. Australia: 9 species (8 species endemic), all mainland States except Vic.
Text by G.J. Harden
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Lamina of leaves or leaflets usually less than 20 mm wide, more than 4 times as long as broad, secondary veins neither prominent nor dense; leaves with or without wings on rachis and petiole; petals 5, scales not crested | 2 |
| Lamina of leaflets usually more than 20 mm wide, about 2–3 times as long as broad, secondary veins prominent, dense; leaves without wings on rachis and petiole; petals 4, scales crested | Atalaya multiflora |
| 2 | Lower surface of leaflets green, glabrous; fruit glabrous | Atalaya salicifolia |
| Lower surface of leaflets glaucous, sparsely hairy or glabrous; fruit hairy
Back to 1 | Atalaya hemiglauca |
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