Compilation
Sparmannia abyssinica

A shrub, whose branches are sparingly covered with slender villi, interspersed among scanty stelliform hairs. Stipules linear-lanceolate, very acute. Petioles shorter than the leaves, which are 2–5 in. long, 2–3 in. wide, cordate palmately 3–5-lobed, central lobe much longest, all covered on both surfaces with shaggy villi, inciso-dentate at the margins. Umbels stalked, 8–12-rayed, opposite the leaves. Involucre of 3–6 lanceolate bracts, sometimes more or less coherent. Flower-buds obovoid. Flowers nearly 1 in. in length. Sepals lanceolate, villose, longer than the somewhat stalked, roundish, pale, violet-coloured petals. Capsule 1 in. or more in length, equalling the pedicel, oblong, obtuse, loculicidally 4-valved; valves downy, studded with straight stellately pilose bristles.