Shrubs or sometimes lianes with horizontal or recurved lateral branches; bark papery, brown or grey, peeling characteristically. Leaves sometimes dimorphic, those on the lateral twigs cuneate and oblong, those on the main stems cordate and shorter; stipules forming a short sheath with 2 interpetiolar awns. Flowers in some species appearing before the new leaves, sweet-scented, 5–8-merous, terminal or appearing lateral on axillary and opposite brachyblasts with an imbricate series of bracts and bracteoles derived from both reduced leaves and stipules. Calyx small, mostly completely hidden by the leaves of the brachyblasts surrounding the flower base; limb short, with minute lobes. Corolla salver-shaped with lobes contorted to the left. Ovary 2-celled with a single ovule in each cell. Fruit with membranous endocarp. Seeds hemispherical with entire endosperm; testa not developed.
Worldwide: Species 8, in African rain forest.
Zambia: 1 taxon. |
No image yet |