Spathelia simplex L.

Spathelia simplex L,. Sp. PI. ed. 2. 386. 1762
Spalhe simplex Crantz, Inst. 2 : 464. 1766.
A tree 7-16 m. in height, with rather smooth light-gray bark ; leaves 4-10 dm. long, the raehis wingless, velvety, terete or nearly so; leaflets 45-81, alternate, opposite or subopposite, oblong, sessile, 7-19 cm. long, 1.5-3.5 cm. broad, coarsely crenulate with glandtipped teeth, dull and velvety above with mostly simple hairs, beneath velvety with intermixed stellate and simple pubescence, truncate and often subcordate at the base, acuminate to long-acuminate at the apex ; panicles large, the branches clothed with an intermixed stellate and simple pubescence ; sepals elliptic to elliptic-obovate, 3-4 mm. long, 1.5-2 mm. broad, bearing a subcircular apical gland, ciliate ; petals elliptic, 5-6.5 mm. long, 3-3.5 mm. broad, bearing an apical gland ; filaments with hirsutulous wing-like appendages ; ovary hirsutulous, somewhat angled ; fruit obovate to ellipsoid, 2.5-3 cm. long, about 1.8 cm. broad, the body teretish, or somewhat angled ; seeds 9-12 mm. long, teretish or somewhat angled, often conspicuously 3-grooved.
Type locality : Jamaica. Distribution : Jamaica.