Description

Dioecious, deciduous, much-branched shrub or small tree up to 4(–6) m tall; bark grey-brown, smooth, fissured or rough; branches erect or arching, lower branches often with thorny end. Leaves distichously alternate, simple and entire; stipules lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm long, acute, fringed, deciduous; petiole 3–6 mm long, grooved above, narrowly winged; blade almost orbicular to obovate or elliptical, (1–)2–4(–6) cm × (0.5–)1–2(–3) cm, base cuneate to rounded, apex obtuse, rounded or notched, thinly papery, pinnately veined with 5–9 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescence an axillary fascicle, many-flowered in male plants, few-flowered in female plants. Flowers unisexual, regular, 5-merous, sweet-scented; pedicel up to 9 mm long; sepals slightly unequal, obovate to lanceolate, fringed, pale greenish yellow; petals absent; male flowers with free stamens, exserted, filaments 2–3 mm long, disk glands fleshy, yellow, rudimentary ovary with 3 styles, up to 2 mm long, fused at base; female flowers with annular disk, shallowly 5-lobed, ovary superior, ovoid, 3-celled, styles 3, fused, stigmas 2-fid, spread horizontally. Fruit a somewhat fleshy slightly 3-lobed, globose capsule, 3–5 mm in diameter, tardily dehiscent, smooth, glabrous, white, up to 6-seeded. Seeds ovoid, 2–3 mm long, shiny, yellowish brown. Flowering time: October-January. Medicinal uses: Unverified information The roots and fruits are believed to be an effective snakebite remedy. Roots of this plant are also used in some African communities as contraceptives and for the treatment of syphilis, gonorrhoea, rheumatism, sterility, rashes, and an infusion of the root is taken to relieve malaria. The bark is believed to provide a treatment for diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Location