The genus Ancistrocladus Wall. ranges from Africa to southeastern Asia and comprises 16 species found in
evergreen tropical forests. Unusual morphological features include its dimorphic juvenile and adult habits; an adult
sympodial liana habit, climbing by hooks formed from modified stem apices; epidermal pits each containing a single
trichome that secretes wax; glands of various forms found on both vegetative and reproductive structures; variously
convolute or imbricate corolla aestivation; nutlike fruits with enlarged accrescent sepals; and deeply ruminate seeds.
This is the only genus of the Ancistrocladaceae; the family is currently classified in Caryophyllales together with
the closely related Dioncophyllaceae. Eleven species are found in Africa, and five in Asia. No infrageneric classification
is recognized here. Ancistrocladus abbreviatus Airy Shaw subsp. lateralis Gereau of Nigeria is newly described
herein based on its pedunculate inflorescences that are borne well below the stem apex and its geographic distribution
that is disjunct from A. abbreviatus subsp. abbreviatus. The occurrence of four sepals and petals in the family
is reported here for the first time, in A. grandiflorus Cheek, as are an additional type of gland found on the leaves,
continuous variation from convolute to imbricate corolla aestivation, and the possible occurrence of stipules. Lectotypes
are newly designated for Ancistrocladus stelligerus Wall. ex DC. and Bigamea thwaitesii Tiegh., and a neotype
is designated for A. hainanensis Hayata. Ancistrocladus pachyrrhachis Airy Shaw is reduced to taxonomic synonymy
under A. barteri Scott-Elliot; A. uncinatus Hutch. & Dalziel is reduced to taxonomic synonymy under A. guineensis
Oliv.; and A. carallioides Craib, A. cochinchinensis Gagnep., and A. harmandii Gagnep. are reduced to taxonomic
synonymy under A. tectorius (Lour.) Merr.