A small deciduous tree or shrub up to 14 m. high; young branches, leaves and inflorescences tomentose.. Leaf-lamina oblong-elliptic, 8–23 cm. long, 4–10 cm. broad, acute to rounded at the apex, cuneate to slightly cordate at the base.. Inflorescence a terminal cymose panicle, ± 10–15 cm. long.. Flowers greenish white; pedicel 4–10 mm. long.. Sepals ovate, 2–3 mm. long, free or connate at the base, minutely tomentose.. Petals narrowly oblanceolate, 8–16 mm. long, 2–4 mm. broad, greenish white or mauve, straight or somewhat recurved, more tomentose outside than inside.. Stamens as long as the petals; anthers 1.8–3 mm. long; staminodes slightly longer than the petals, narrowly oblanceolate, caudate.. Gynophore 2–4.5 mm. long, glandular; ovary 1.5–2 mm. in diameter; style 6–9 mm. long.. Fruit 5-lobed, 5–8 cm. in diameter; spiny projections 8–30 mm. long.. Seeds black, nearly spherical, 1.5–2.5 cm. long, 1.4–1.8 cm. broad.. Fig. 4/7.
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