M. Thulin (2006) Maesa in Flora of Somalia 3:18-19
Plants trees or shrubs. Inflorescences axillary racemes or panicles. Flowers bisexual or functionally female, with 2 bracteoles at the base of the calyces. Calyces (4-)5-lobed; corollas campanulate, owith short tubes and spreading lobes, the lobes imbricate or quincuncial; anthers dorsifixed, opening by longitudinal slits; ovaries more or less inferior; ovules several to many emedded in the placenta; styles short. Fruits small, dry or fleshy, indehiscent, crowned by the persistent styles and calyces, several seeded; seeds small, pitted.
Maesa includes about 100 species. They are all native to the Old World tropics.