Pentadesma

Tall trees, usually with a long clean bole; bark dark brown to almost black. Leaves opposite, grouped towards tips of branches, petiolate, oblong to obovate, cuneate at base, obtuse or shortly acuminate at apex, coriaceous, glabrous; lateral veins parallel, not clearly visible on upper surface; glandular dots not visible on lower surface. Inflorescences terminal, racemose panicles or racemes. Flowers bisexual; large and showy; pedicel stout, articulated near base. Sepals 5, free, 2 exterior shorter than interior ones which equal petals, imbricate, concave, coriaceous, +/-persistent. Petals 5, free, contorted in bud, coriaceous, oblong or ovate, +/-persistent. Stamens many, in 5 epipetalous fascicles alternating with 5 small pyramidal bodies; filaments filiform, shortly connate at base; anthers filiform, with very short pointed tail at base. Ovary 5-locular, ovoid-ellipsoid, with 7-14 axile ovules in 2 rows per locule; style elongated, ending in 5 linear lobes. Fruit a large 5-locular, globose or ovoid berry with coriaceous exocarp and with calyx, stamens and pyramidal bodies persistent at base. Seeds +/-triangular or irregularly shaped, embedded in yellow pulp.