Symphonia L.f.

Medium or large trees, rarely shrubs. Leaves opposite, petiolate, entire, ± coriaceous, glabrous, with ± prominent venation, opaque or rarely with translucent glands. Inflorescence a terminal one- to many-flowered, corymbose or umbellate cyme. Flowers pedicellate; sepals 5; petals 5, incurved at anthesis. Androecium of 5 fascicles of stamens united to form a tube round the ovary and 5 united fasciclodes forming an annulus outside the stamen tube. Ovary 5-locular. Fruit a 1–3-seeded berry with tough epidermis. Seeds large, with a fibrous aril.

Worldwide: 16 species in Madagascar.

Rwanda: 1 taxon.