Description: Tree, up to 25 m tall. Bark smooth, greyish. Stipules chartaceous, caduceus. Leaves opposite decussate; elliptic to ovate or obovate, 5–11 x 12–17 cm; apex shortly pointed; base usually rounded to cordate, sometimes cuneate; glabrous above, slightly hairy below; secondary vein 8–17 pairs, with pale-hairy domatia at the axils; tertiary veins fine, ladder-like; petioles 2.5–4 cm long. Inflorescence a solitary head, terminal, globose, dense flowers and spathulate interfloral bracteoles. Flowers 5-merous; calyx tube ca 2 mm. long; corolla tube 3.5–5 mm. long, lobes 2.5–3 mm. long. Stamens 5; anthers 1–1.5 mm long; filaments 0.5 mm long. Ovary 2-celled; ovules numerous. Fruiting heads globose, 2–3 cm in diam.; fruitlets 7–9 x 4–5 mm. Seeds ca 1 mm long, with papery wing at each end, 1–2 mm long. |
