Fls 5-merous; stamens numerous, distinct or often united into 5 antepetalous bundles, in our native spp. the innermost member of each group modified into an oblanceolate or spatulate, petaloid staminode; style dilated into a shallowly lobed stigma; ovary tomentose, with 2 ovules in each of the 5 locules; fr tomentose, indehiscent, nutlike, 1-2-seeded; trees with broad, petiolate, palmately veined lvs very oblique at the base, and fragrant, white or ochroleucous fls in axillary cymes, the long peduncle adnate about to the middle of a characteristic narrow, elongate, short-petioled, foliaceous bract. 50, mainly N. Temp.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
