Kibatalia G.Don

Trees or large shrubs with copious white latex from all parts. Branches sparsely lenticellate, often transversely fissured. Leaves opposite; midrib prominent beneath; glands in the axils present or absent. Inflorescence with a very short peduncle and appearing as a fascicle; flowers 5-merous and often distinctly 5-angled. Sepals ovate; colleters inside. Corolla tube often widening at point of stamen insertion; lobes dextrorse; mature corolla salverform. Stamens sessile or subsessile, adnate to the style head; anthers fertile in the upper half only, the lower half sterile, laterally with lignified guide rails and sagittate appendages at the base. Disk not as high as the ovary, 5-lobed, glabrous. Gynoecium 2-carpellate, apocarpous but apically united into a common style; ovules numerous; style filiform; style head conical or ovoid. Fruit of paired follicles, narrowly ellipsoid or cylindrical, lenticellate or not. Seeds consisting of seed grain and a long beak directed towards base of fruit and with a coma along the beak; hairs of coma directed down towards seed grain.

UsesThe wood of all species can be used for medium-heavy construction work but as the trees are generally not very large are more often used for household items. The latex is used medicinally against stomach disorders or worms. The flowers can be cooked and eaten.