Fici, S. (1999) Araliaceae in Flora of Somalia 2: 267-268
Plants trees or shrubs. Leaves petiolate, stipulate; stipules intrapetiolar, partly adnate to the petioles but with a free portion; blades simple, palmately lobed, or digitately compound; leaflets entire, crenate, or pinnatifid. Inflorescences spikes, racemes, or panicles. Flowers greenish, (4-)5-merous; calyces subentire, undulate, or (4-)5-dentate; petals (4-)5; stamens (4-)5, with ovate anthers; ovaries with 2(-4) cells; style bases united into a stylopodieum. Fruits drupes; seeds with ruminate endosperm.
Cussonia has about 25 species which grow in tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, and the Mascarenes.