Slender shrub to 5 m. Petiole c. 20 cm, terete and finely striate, base ensheathing the stem, membranous. Leaflets 5, or the central petiolule bearing three leaflets, the two lateral petiolules short (1-1.5 cm), the three central longer (6-8 cm, or the midpetiolule to 11 cm); lamina of the lateral leaflets elliptic or ovate, up to 20 by 12 cm, base abruptly attenuated into the petiolule, apex gradually narrowed, acute, margin entire or minutely denticulate towards the apex, membranous; lamina of the central leaflet similar or deeply 3-lobed or with 3 separate leaflets of which the lateral are strongly oblique at the base. Inflorescence a terminal compound umbel; peduncle terete, striate, stout, from 20 cm to considerably longer, 4-6 mm ø, bearing lanceolate bracts below the rays; primary rays numerous (c. 30-50), 9-18 cm, slender, striate, with distal minute, linear, caducous bracts; secondary rays (pedicels) numerous (35-130), filiform, 1-2 cm; outer flowers male, central hermaphrodite. Calyx lobes 5, narrowly triangular, c. 0.5 mm long. Petals 5, obovate, c. 1 mm long. Ovary narrowly obconic in male flowers, ovoid in hermaphrodite flowers, c. 0.7 mm long. Fruit (immature) ovate, compressed.
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