Dipteronia

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Dipteronia is a genus of two species in the soapberry family Sapindaceae, related to the maples and like them in the part of Sapindaceae often separated as Aceraceae. They are deciduous flowering shrubs or small trees, reaching 10-15 m tall.

The leaf arrangement is opposite and pinnate. Inflorescence terminal or axillary, paniculate. Sepals 5. Petals 5. Staminate flowers: stamens 8. Bisexual flowers: ovary 2-celled. The fruit is a rounded samara containing two compressed nutlets, flat, encircled by a broad wing which turns from light green to red with ripening.

There are only 2 species, Dipteronia sinensis and Dipteronia dyeriana; both are endemic to mainland China. Dipteronia dyeriana is listed by the [IUCN] as being a "Red List" threatened species.

The name Dipteronia stems from the Greek "di-" (two, both) & "pteron" (wings), from the winged fruits with wings on both sides of the seed.

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