Trees, often with a swollen trunk. Rootstocks often smelling of horseradish. Stipules minute, caducous. Leaves alternate, 2-imparipinnate, with stalked glands at base of petioles and pinnae. Inflorescence a many-flowered axillary panicle. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic or zygomorphic, with petals and stamens fused into a cup-like hypanthium. Sepals 5, petaloid. Petals 5, alternating with sepals, white. Stamens 5. Ovary superior, of 3 fused carpels. Fruit a long beaked many-seeded pod-like capsule. Seeds with 3 membranous wings. Worldwide: 1 genus and 12 species occuring in semi-arid Africa to Asia. (Ours is an introduction from NW India). |
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