Compilation
Hymenocardia guineensis

A shrub or small tree; branchlets whitish-pubescent, at length glabrous. Smaller leaves elliptic, 1 1/2–2 1/2 in. long, 3/4–1 1/2 in. broad, older leaves broadly ovate or rotundate-ovate, obtuse, cordate at the base, 2–3 1/2 in. long, 1 1/2–3 in. broad, firmly membranous or papery, midrib and lateral nerves pubescent beneath, blade otherwise glabrous and beset with golden-coloured glands on the lower surface; lateral nerves 5–6 on each side, distinct on both surfaces and slightly prominent on the lower; petiole 1/4– 3/4 in. long, densely pubescent; stipules lanceolate, soon falling, about 2 1/2 lin. long. Male spikes 1–2 in. long; axis minutely puberulous; bracts broadly ovate, coriaceous, almost glabrous. Calyx 5-lobed to about the middle, glandular and pubescent; lobes ovate, obtuse, ciliolate. Stamens 5, joined at the base of the rudimentary ovary; anthers and rudimentary ovary as in H. acida. Young female flowers not seen. Fruits depressed-cordate, with the axis slightly projecting at the apex from the centre of the obscure sinus, 1/2– 3/4 in. long, 1–1 1/4 in. broad, very flat, distinctly reticulate, glabrous.