A large tree, young branches compressed and covered with reddish or ash-coloured scales, the whole plant otherwise glabrous. Leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, 2–3 in. long, narrowly obovate, densely lepidote on both sides, which gives to the plant a mealy appearance. Flowers small, in axillary and terminal spikes about the length of the leaves; buds pyramidal. Teeth of the calyx broadly triangular. Petals minute, obovate. Style covered with stipitate glands. Fruit very shortly pedicellate from a broad truncate base, tipped at the apex with the persistent base of the style, densely lepidote.
Distribution
Angola Lower Guinea on the coast, Dr. Welwitsch!Mozamb. Dist. Lupata, Dr. Kirk!
Notes
This species may be readily distinguished from all other African Combreta by its glandular style. The wood is described as being exactly like that of the lignum-vitæ. The native name for it in the Mozambique country is “Mozambiti.”
