Cynometra ramiflora L.

Small to medium tree 5–20 m high. Leaves distichous, mostly with 1 pair of ± sessile leaflets; leaflets oblong-elliptic, unequal-sided, 6–30 cm long, oblique at base, shortly acuminate, glabrescent; petiole 3–10 mm long, glabrous; young foliage drooping, cream or pinkish. Racemes axillary, sometimes paired; rachis 10–25 mm long; pedicels 6–15 mm long, with bracteoles near base. Hypanthium c. 1 mm long. Sepals 4–6 mm long, usually pubescent at tips, white, reflexed. Petals narrowly ovate, 5–8 mm long, white. Stamens usually 10, glabrous. Ovary densely hairy; stalk 1 mm long. Fruit obliquely ellipsoidal, 2.5–3.5 cm long, deeply wrinkled, woody, shortly pubescent; beak short, oblique. Seed 1. (Du Puy 1993: 202). See also Cooper (2015: 395), Zich et al. (2020).

In Queensland, grows in areas of back mangal with various associated species, and adjacent to mangroves in swamp forest dominated by Livistona benthamii (see Cooper 2015: 399). On Christmas Island, a single stand occurs S of Ross Hill, at 300 m alt., in the eastern peripheral zone of the primary forest as part of the understorey vegetation in basaltic soil. Another example of a typically coastal mangrove species being maintained in an inland ecosystem (see also Heritiera littoralis). It is characteristic of the vegetation towards the drier and less saline back of mangrove forest, and is also found on coral platforms, in strand vegetation, along rivers, in damp grassland and occasionally as an upland species. (Du Puy 1993).

It has heavy, hard, dark brown timber, but is not very durable.

Plants can be grown by seed. The seed needs to have its seed coat scratched or cut.