Coula

Tall trees with first branches at a height of 5-6 m; young parts covered with red hairs. Leaves simple, entire, glabrous when mature, lower surface red when fresh; secondary veins reaching leaf margin. Inflorescences many-flowered axillary panicles. Flowers bisexual. Calyx cup-shaped with margin entire to faintly 4- or 5-lobed. Petals 4 or 5, free, valvate. Stamens free, 3-4 times as many as petals, alterni- and epipetalous with filaments pressed against inner face of petals. Ovary 3- or 4-locular with 1 ovule per locule; style short, conical, ending in a 3-lobed stigma. Fruit a globose or ellipsoid, glabrous drupe; endocarp woody, rugose. Seed 1; testa thin; endosperm starchy and oily.