Small or medium trees; young parts rusty-tomentose. Leaves pinnate; leaflets entire or more commonly toothed, at least in the upper part, the middle leaflets a little larger than the others. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal paniculate thyrse; flowers regular, unisexual, in clusters subtended by bracts, each inflorescence successively male, female and finally male. Sepals 5, valvate, joined at the base, densely hairy outside.. Petals 5, clawed, widest just below the apex, with a scale which is reflexed and bearded at the tip.. Disk circular, glabrous, the outer part flat, lobed, the inner a raised rim, together resembling a cup and saucer. Stamens 10–13; filaments folded in bud, glabrous or hairy; anthers oblong, dorsifixed. Ovary 3-locular; style undivided. Fruit a 3-valved dehiscent ellipsoid or obovoid capsule, externally hairy, internally glabrous. Seeds 3, trigonous in cross-section, enclosed almost totally by a waxy aril.
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