Glabrous shrub or small tree, up to 15 m, with few branches bearing terminal clusters of large leaves. Leaves imparipinnate, up to 1 m (or more) long, uppermost leaves smaller; petiole c. 15 cm, with a sheathing base extending for 6-10 cm along the petiole; petiolules c. 10-15 mm; lamina oblong often broader near the base (lower and the terminal pinnules more ovate) c. 20-25 by 8-10 cm, slightly succulent when fresh, margin entire, revolute or occasionally minutely dentate, apex rounded and shortly apiculate, base rounded, truncate or sub-cordate, midrib and widely spaced laterals prominent. Inflorescence a large panicle; primary axis stout, rather short (c. 3-10 cm), often bearing reduced leaves or cataphylls basally, and a few lateral inflorescence branches, terminating in an umbel of long diffusely branched rays; lateral branches and rays c. 40-50 cm, with secondary branches c. 6-12 cm borne singly or in sub verticils along their length; secondary branches with numerous tertiary branches bearing lateral and terminal umbellules (or the branching may be of a high order); umbellules with c. 6-12 flowers on delicate pedicels c. 3 mm long. Calyx a minute rim. Petals 5, 2.5 mm long. Stamens 5, anthers oblong 1.5 mm long, filaments delicate, 1.5 mm long. Ovary turbinate in bud, 1.5 mm long, rapidly becoming rotund, compressed with prominent veins, 2-celled; styles 2, divergent. Fruit fleshy, black, compressed, c. 5 by 6 mm; styles persistent, recurved.
More
A tall shrub. It grows 4-7 m high and spreads 2-4 m wide. Young growth is smooth. There is usually a single trunk. The bark is grey. There are only a few branches and they are spreading. The leaves are divided along the stalk. The leaves are 1 m long. The leaflets are 20-25 cm long by 8-10 cm wide. They are oblong and often broadest near the base. They are green and often rolled downwards. The flowers are 0.5 cm across. They form loose open groups. The fruit is about 0.8 cm across and flattened.
Home
