Colossal, fast-growing, buttressed tree with thick twigs sharply 3-angular at the apex. Flush and inflorescences lepidote, glabrescent. Leaves roundish-cordate, 5-7(-9)-nerved, lower surface with groups of large pitted domatial glands in the axils of the nerves, and very numerous smaller ones on the veins. Petiole long, 5-angled. Flowers sessile, coarse, green, 5-8-merous, thick, spreading, in axillary, sessile or peduncled spikes. ♂ Flowers campanulate; sepals triangular; petals triangular, with a subulate acumen; stamens in bud strongly incurved, with a thick filament and a large kidney-shaped curved intrors anther. ♀ Flowers: apex of the ovary deeply cup-shaped by the thick calyx tube; styles 5-8, inserted in the throat opposite the acute-triangular calyx-lobes, short, thick, applanate, crowned by a thick, capitate stigma. Petals 0. Capsule barrel-shaped, throwing ofif the irregular-longitudinally torn exocarp + calyx; endocarp pale, horny, obovate, splitting from the top downwards; persistent. Seeds spindle-shaped, produced in immense quantities.
Home