Connarus salomoniensis G.Schellenb.

Large liana or small tree (up to 12 m). Branches glabrous. Leaves (1-)2-jugate, glabrous; petiolules 6 mm. Leaflets ovate to elliptic-oblong, 8-22 by 11 cm, thin-coriaceous to chartaceous; base rounded, sometimes subpeltate; apex acute; nerves 6-8 pairs, patent, slightly curved, not distinctly joined; veins transverse, spaced. Inflorescences c. 20-25 cm long, the uppermost parts minutely ferruginous-tomentose, broadly paniculate, many-flowered. Bracts deltoid, minute. Sepals oblong, 2.25 by 1 mm, blunt, outside rather densely minutely tomentose, inside sparsely pubescent. Petals obovate, 2½ by 1½ mm or linear-lanceolate, 5 by 1 mm, slightly ciliate at the apex, further glabrous, sparsely punctate. Stamens for 0.5 mm connate, epipetalous ones staminodial, glabrous except for some glandular hairs on top of the reduced anther, long filaments with some glandular hairs in the apical half. Fruits semi-ellipsoid, nearly straight, slightly flattened, 3.5-5 by 2-3 cm, stipe up to 0.5 cm long, beak minute, inserted slightly below the apex; pericarp woody, 1-1.5 mm thick, outside smooth, faintly lenghtwise striate, glabrous, inside sparsely pubescent to glabrous.

In rain-forests up to 800 m and along the coast on mud flats subject to tidal inundation. Fl.--01, fr. Jan., March, July-Aug.

Uses. In the Solomon Islands the seeds are chewed as a substitute for betel nuts.