Description:

• Unarmed evergreen or deciduous trees
• Leaves paripinnate; leaflets in one to many opposite pairs, ± markedly asymmetric basally, venation prominent on both surfaces, translucent dots often present but sometimes 0; petiolules usually twisted; stipules intrapetiolar, always connate below, bicuspidate above or with 2 relatively large foliaceous lobes simulating free stipules, ± persistent or rapidly deciduous
• Inflorescence a terminal usually much-branched panicle
• Flowers bisexual, irregular; bracteoles 2, well developed, valvate, completely enclosing flower buds, persistent, keeled down back
• Sepals 5, well developed, equal or nearly so in length, ciliate; calyx tube 0
• Petals 5, equal or nearly so in length, all subequal and well developed, 1 large and 4 small, or all small
• Stamens 10, fertile; 9 filaments shortly united below, the tenth free
• Ovary very shortly stipitate, densely pubescent; stipe free; ovules up to 5; style elongate; stigmas capitate, abruptly enlarged
• Pod compressed, 1-seeded, elastically dehiscing into 2 woody valves; valves obliquely transversely nerved; upper suture usually with a laterally projecting wing or ridge
• Seed compressed, exareolate, with a hard testa, borne on short funicles
• x = 12

Nomenclature:

• Julbernardia Pellegr.
  • Pellegrin: 297 (1943)
  • Brenan: 145 (1967)
  • Ross: 43 (1977)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global: Species ± 8, all in tropical Africa
• Southern Africa: Species 1: Julbernardia globiflora (Benth.) Troupin, Namibia (Caprivi Strip) and Botswana