Julbernardia Pellegr.

Unarmed, often evergreen trees. Leaves paripinnate, with leaflets in one to many pairs; stipules intrapetiolar, always connate below, bicuspidate above or with 2 relatively large foliaceous lobes simulating free stipules, ± persistent or very quickly falling off; lobes sometimes somewhat auriculate at base; petiolules usually twisted; leaflets opposite, ± markedly asymmetric at base, with venation prominent on both surfaces; translucent dots often present but sometimes absent (and sometimes inconstant in one species). Flowers in terminal usually much-branched panicles; bracteoles 2, well-developed, valvate, completely enclosing the flower-buds, persistent, keeled down back. Hypanthium absent. Sepals 5, well-developed, equal or nearly so in length, ciliate. Petals 5, equal or nearly so in length, all subequal and well-developed, 1 large and 4 small, or all small. Stamens 10, fertile; 9 filaments shortly connate below, the tenth free. Ovary densely pubescent, very shortly stipitate; stipe free; ovules few (up to 5); style elongate; stigma capitate, abruptly enlarged. Pods compressed, 1–5-seeded, elastically dehiscing into 2 woody valves; valves obliquely transversely nerved (nerves often obscure when pods are ripe); upper suture usually with a flange-like wing or ridge projecting laterally. Seeds compressed, without areoles, with a hard testa, borne on short funicles.