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Monoecious trees. Leaves large; petiole base armed with sharp teeth; lamina pinnate; leaflets Λ-shaped in cross-section; lower leaflets with spine-like midribs. Inflorescences mostly unisexual, branched with a short peduncle, the flower-bearing branches very crowded and congested among the leaf sheaths. Male flowers solitary; sepals 3; petals 3; stamens 6, united basally. Female flowers much larger than male, usually forming a triad with 2 abortive male flowers; sepals 3; petals 3; stigmas 3, fleshy and conspicuous; ovary 3-locular. Fruit shiny, with a conspicuous 3-pored stone. Derivation of name: Derived from elaion, the Greek word for oil Worldwide: 2 species; one in Africa and Madagascar, the other in eastern S America Mozambique: 1 cultivated taxon. |
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Species | Content |
guineensis Jacq. | Image |
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