Paropsia guineensis Oliv.

Shrub or tree up to 15(–20) m., deciduous; stem up to 50 cm. in diameter; branches glabrous, when young brownish or reddish-brown tomentose; lenticels elliptic-oblong, whitish.. Leaf-blades elliptic-oblong, rarely subovate-elliptic, top subacute to subobtuse, sometimes shortly acuminate, base broadly cuneate to subrotund, chartaceous, ± asymmetrical, (5–)8–14(–18) by 3–5(–7.5) cm., glabrous above except midrib, pilose beneath, soon glabrescent except midrib, margin repand-dentate (teeth ± 0.5 mm.); midrib prominent beneath, lateral nerves 7–8 pairs, ± upward curved, venation loosely prominent-reticulate; petiole 2–3(–4) mm.. Inflorescences fasciculate, 3–4(–7)-flowered, often arranged into panicles up to 30 cm. long and wide, in the axils of fallen or very young leaves; branches red-brown tomentose; bracts ovate, cucullate, caducous.. Flowers fragrant; pedicels slender, 4–9 mm., red-brown tomentose.. Sepals subspathulate-lanceolate, 6–7(–10) by 2–3 mm., tomentose outside, glabrous inside.. Petals oblong-subspathulate, 8–10 by 2–3(–4) mm., white, glabrous.. Corona 3(–4) mm. high, composed of threads which are connate in the lower one-third and glabrous, free parts rather long pilose.. Filaments 6–7 mm.; anthers (2–)3 mm.. Gynophore 1.5–2 mm.; ovary glabrous; styles slender, glabrous, ± 2 mm.. Fruits mostly on nearly bare trees, glabrous, 1.5–2 cm. in diameter.. Fig. 2.

Rain-forest, both in the dense primary forest and also in the more open areas of mixed secondary growth, sometimes an understorey plant.

Can be grown by seedlings.