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Huaceae

Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr.

General Information

The most striking thing about this tree is that all parts smell of onion or garlic. The bark is pale coloured and the slash whitish. The leaves when fresh are a very bright green on their upper surface. On the lower surface they are dull, pale brown to matt white due to a dense covering of tiny white scales. On old leaves, found under the tree, these scales fall off to reveal a very tight, regular pattern of rectangles formed by the finest venation. The leaves each have a pair of stipules which fall early.

Ecology

Mixed species and Gilbertiodendron dewevrei forest on terra firma.

Distribution

Distribution: Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon to DRC.