Changes

*Mwanzangu, mugome, ngome (Sw).

*Shrub or small tree up to 15(–18) m tall, often with low-branching bole; bark brown to grey, somewhat corky; young branches usually sparsely appressed hairy, later glabrous. *Leaves opposite, simple; stipules between the petioles, 3–5 mm long, early caducous; petiole 1–6 mm long; blade lanceolate to elliptical or obovate, 3–10 cm × 1.5–5 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate to acute, margin entire or with a few teeth in the upper part, papery to leathery, glabrous above, sparsely hairy to glabrous below. *Inflorescence an axillary fascicle, 1–4-flowered, more or less lax. *Flowers bisexual, regular, 4–6-merous; pedicel 1–2 mm long, jointed at apex; calyx campanulate, tube 1–1.5 mm long, lobes 3–5 mm long, narrowly triangular to ovate; petals spatulate, 3–6 mm long, deeply fringed, white to green; stamens 20–24; ovary superior, densely pubescent, 3–4-celled, style 2–2.5 mm long, persistent. *Fruit a spherical to ovoid capsule c. 5 mm long, pubescent, dehiscent, few-seeded. *Seeds black with red aril, testa leathery.

* Lovett, J.C., Ruffo, C.K. & Gereau, R.E., 2003. Field guide to the moist forest trees of Tanzania. [Internet] Centre for Ecology Law and Policy, Environment Department, University of York, York, United Kingdom. http://www.york.ac.uk/ res/celp/webpages/projects/ecology/ tree%20guide/guide.htm. December 2005.

* M. Brink , PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands