Trees or shrubs 2-5 m. Branchlets puberulent, sometimes densely so, gradually glabrescent; terminal bud conical, lateral ones broadly ovoid. Leaves 5-15 cm; petiole 1.5-4.5 cm; axis finely puberulent; leaflets 5-7; petiolule 0.2-1.5 cm, pubescent; leaflet blade broadly ovate, rhomboid to ovate, broadly lanceolate, or elliptic, 2-5 × 1.5-3 cm, papery, glabrous, base broadly cuneate, margin deeply serrate to incised, apex caudate; primary veins 4-6 on each side of midrib. Panicles terminal or lateral, 5-9 cm, sparsely to sometimes densely puberulent. Flowers polygamous, appearing after leaves. Pedicel ca. 3 mm. Staminate flowers: calyx cupular, 0.5 mm, teeth irregular, small; corolla white to yellowish, lobes linear, 4-6 mm. Bisexual flowers: calyx teeth subulate, larger; corolla lobes 6-8 mm. Samara spatulate-oblong, 2-3 cm × 3-5 mm; wing decurrent to lower part of nutlet.

Astringent, analgesic, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, diuretic and expectorant (bark)

Plants For A Future

The bark controls bacterial infections and coughs. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, cataracts, cough and asthma.