It is a tree reaching 25 meters in height. Its trunk has grey bark. Its long branches have a round cross-section and are covered in woolly hairs when young, but are hairless when mature. Its
petioles are 12–20 mm long and covered in woolly hairs. Its hairless, elliptical leaves are 8–16 by 7–11 cm. One to eight fragrant flowers are on
peduncles that are 10–20 mm long. Subtending the peduncles are oval
bracts that are 1.5-2.0 by 2.0 cm and covered in woolly hairs. About midway along the length of the peduncles is a
bracteole that is 8 by 2–5 mm and covered in woolly hairs. Its
sepals are 5 mm long and come to a shallow point. Its oblong, fleshy petals are 4–7 cm long and 2 cm wide at their widest point. The petals come to a point at their tip and are covered in woolly hairs. The flowers have about 240
stamens. The
receptacles of the flowers are hairy. Its flowers have 24
carpels that are covered in fine downy hairs. Its
styles are hairless. Its
ovaries have variable numbers of
ovules. Its cylindrical fruit is on
pedicels that are 5 mm long. The contour of the fruit is constricted around its seeds. The fruit contains two or three flattened, brown, shiny seeds that are 6 by 12 mm.
Reproductive biology The pollen of
C. brandisiana is shed as permanent tetrads.
Habitat and distribution Pierre described it in 1881 as growing commonly in the forest areas in China and Cambodia. Bioactive molecules isolated from its bark, including
acetogenins have been reported to have cytotoxic properties in tests with cancer cell lines.
Juvenile hormones, which are known to regulate insect development, have also been extracted from its bark. Pierre noted that its soft, white wood can be used in woodworking to create vases, boxes, and tool handles. ==References==