Greek geisson — projecting tiles on a roof; referring to the ‘tiled’, overlapping arrangement of 2 rows of seed in the fruit.

Description:: Trees. Leaves compound, palmate, with 3-5 leaflets, the margins generally toothed; stipules prominent at first, with 4 at each node. Flowers in axillary clusters. Sepals 4-5, fused at the base. Petals absent. Stamens numerous. Ovary superior, with 2 chambers and containing numerous ovules. Fruit a capsule.

Grown in warm-climate gardens for the reddish new growth and attractive leaves.

20 rainforest species from Australia (2 species endemic), New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu.

Seed.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Cunoniaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.