Carapa

Trees of very variable habit. Leaves usually paripinnate, and with an apical gland, mostly crowded at ends of stout branchlets. Flowers unisexual, 4- or 5(6)-merous, in large, much-branched panicles. Calyx small, lobed almost to base; lobes imbricate. Petals 4 or 5(6), slightly contorted, spreading in open flowers. Staminal tube urceolate, bearing 6-8 included anthers or antherodes towards apex and terminated by 8-10 suborbicular, emarginated or irregularly lobed, overlapping appendages alternating with anthers or antherodes. Disc cushion-shaped, surrounding base of ovary and free from staminal tube. Ovary 4 or 5(6)-locular with 2-8 ovules in each locule; style-head discoid with a crenular margin. Fruit a large, pendulous, leathery, subglobose, septifragal capsule, breaking open on hitting ground; columella poorly developed. Seeds +/- 12-20, large, subangular, with a woody but buoyant outer covering.