A small, glabrous tree, 6 m. Leaves clustered at the ends of the branches; petiole to 40 cm, channelled above, 4 mm broad, with a sheathing base prolonged as a stipular ligule 2-2.5 cm long, and with several fimbriate or entire crests on the lower part of the petiole; blade c. 30 cm ø, membranous, cordate at the base, deeply 7-lobed, lobes elliptic, slightly narrowed to the broadly rounded sinuses, narrowed to a fine apiculum at the apex, margin finely serrulate. Inflorescence a terminal compound umbel, c. 10 cm ø; peduncle c. 1 cm, bearing ovate bracts (ligules of reduced leaves) and terminating in a cluster of bracts (c. 10 mm long) below and among the primary rays; primary rays c. 12-15, c. 3-4 cm long, with a pair of lanceolate bracts at the apex (c. 1 cm long); central branch c. 1 cm long, terminating in an umbellule of c. 5-8 sterile bacciform flowers (c. 4 mm ø when dry) on pedicels 6-9 mm long interspersed with linear bracts 5 mm long; two lateral branches c. 3.5 cm long, articulated about the middle, terminating in an umbellule surrounded by caducous linear bracts (leaving a rim-like involucre); flowers c. 8-12, pedicels c. 2-3 mm. Calyx rim obsolete. Corolla 3 mm long, with 7-8 lobes above, tubular below. Stamens 7-8, filaments stout, anthers exserted. Ovary subcylindric, angled, c. 1.5 mm long, 7-8-celled; disk flat, with a central stigmatic boss. Fruit unknown.
Home