Large buttressed tree with pale flaky and prominently fissured bark. Young parts very shortly densely evenly tawny pubescent, caducous on all but leaf bud, panicle and stipule (puberulent on inner surface). Twig c. 4 mm ø, stout, terete, slightly ridged and compressed apically, becoming smooth or rugulose; stipule scars c. 0.5 mm broad, horizontal, normally amplexicaul. Bud 5-8 by 2-4 mm, compressed or terete, narrowly ovoid to broadly falcate. Stipule to 20 by 7 mm, lanceolate, acute, fugaceous. Leaves 10-20 by 9-16 cm, broadly ovate to suborbicular, thickly coriaceous; base obtuse or broadly cuneate; apex obtuse or with short, to 5 mm long, acumen; margin slightly but distinctly revolute; nerves 7-9 pairs, well spaced, prominent beneath, arched at margin, at c. 40°-55°; midrib applanate and broad above, terete and prominent beneath; tertiary nerves slender, densely scalariform, at 90° to midrib; petiole 4-6 cm long, stout. Panicle to 11 cm long, terminal or axillary, compressed, ridged when dry; doubly branched, the branchlets bearing to 5 distichous flowers; bracteoles to 3 by 2 mm, ovate, acute, shortly pubescent. Flower bud to 6 by 4 mm, narrowly ovoid, acute. Calyx densely pubescent outside; lobes ovate, deltoid, acuminate, the 3 outer somewhat longer, more obtuse, than the 2 inner lobes. Petals broadly lanceolate, obtuse, hardly contorted, densely pubescent on parts exposed in bud. Stamens 15, in 3 lengths, the inner 5 an anther's length longer than the outer 5; filaments broad at base, tapering and stoutly filiform distally; anthers subglobose; appendage to connective 3-4 x length of anther, pubescent towards apex, otherwise glabrous; stylopodium indistinct, sparsely pubescent, tapering into style; style and stylopodium longer than ovary. Fruit calyx entirely glabrous; 3 longer lobes to 16 by 3.5 cm, spatulate, obtuse, c. 1 mm broad above the to 2 by 1.5 cm thickened saccate base; 2 shorter lobes to 8 by 0.6 cm, narrowly spatulate, similarly saccate at base. Nut to 3.3 by 1.8 cm, ovoid, pruinose, buff pubescent towards the apex; style remnant c. 1.5 mm long, acute.
Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
Home
