species descriptions: FTEAs

Strong woody climber, up to 7 m. or more in length; older stems up to 12 cm. in diameter. Younger branches +/- densely ferrugineous-sericeous or pubescent, older ones glabrous, lenticellate. Leaf-lamina obovate, obovate-oblong to obovate-elliptic, rarely oblanceolate, (4-)5.5-14(-17) x (2-)3-6(-9) cm., obtuse, abruptly acuminate, rarely somewhat retuse, cuneate or rounded at base, subcoriaceous, finely pubescent underneath (mainly along the midrib) when young, later glabrous, dark green and somewhat glossy on upper, pale green and matt on lower surface, with 8-12 pairs of lateral nerves and with 1 or 2 pairs of circular glands beneath near insertion of petiole; petiole 0.5-1 cm. long, canaliculate. Inflorescences many-flowered racemes which are usually aggregated into large panicles, 5-20(-30) cm. long; bracts triangular or ovate-triangular, 1-2.25 mm. long; bracteoles similar to the bracts, with a circular or transversely elliptic gland on rhachis below (fig. 2/7). Flowers +/- 2.5 cm. in diameter. Calyx with 2 or 3 (rarely 4) circular glands at the very base; lobes broadly ovate to subcircular, 2.5-3 x 3 mm., finely sericeous outside or glabrescent. Petals yellow, obovate to elliptic, 9-14 x 7-10 mm., clawed, usually fimbriate at margins. Stamens with the anthers (3.5-)4-5 mm. long; filaments rather thick, somewhat dilated towards base, 1.5-3 mm. long. Ovary densely ferrugineous-sericeous; styles 8-10 mm. long. Wing of samara obliquely obovate-oblong, 2.5-5 x 0.9-1.5 cm., with upper edge curved, somewhat constricted near base, broadest above middle, green and tinged with purple. Figs. 1/9, p. 4, 2/7, p. 10.