What is "hymenodictyon"

Hymenodictyon is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It has about 30 species. All are native to the Old World. The wood of Hymenodictyon orixense is soft and has limited use, mostly for boxes. The type species for Hymenodictyon is Hymenodictyon orixense ( synonym: Hymenodictyon excelsum).

Hymenodictyon was named by Nathaniel Wallich in 1824 in an addendum to William Roxburgh's Flora Indica, in an edition published by Carey and Wallich after Roxburgh's death. The generic name is derived from two Greek words, hymen, "membrane", and diktyon, "net". It refers to the wing that surrounds each seed.

Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that Hymenodictyon is paraphyletic over the Madagascan genus Paracorynanthe.

In Hymenodictyon and Paracorynanthe, the stipules bear large deciduous glands called colleters. The corolla tube is narrow at the base, gradually widening toward the apex. The fruit is a woody capsule.