Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica flowering

Inflorescences of Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica appear above the leaves in summer. They grow in rounded terminal heads known as compound umbels that become up to 5 cm in diameter.

The small, greenish white or yellowish flowers are bisexual, their floral parts occurring in fives. The calyx is five-toothed, the petals in-curving and keeled on their insides. The stamens are longer than the petals. The two-chambered ovary has two short styles.

The laterally flattened fruit has two longitudinally ridged or winged parts, creamy brown in colour when dry. The fruits carried in round clusters contain a volatile aromatic oil.

Various plant parts have found their way into traditional medicine and some practices involving magic (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Pooley, 1993).