Small forest undershrub 0.3–2.4 m tall; branchlets grey or brownish to purplish, lenticellate; buds fusiform, 4–5 mm long, 1.5 mm diameter, the scales entire and persistent on the young stems, ± imbricate, lanceolate, 2–5 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaves thin, oblanceolate to elliptic, (3.5–)7–11 cm long, (1–)2–3.5 cm wide, acuminate to an acute apex, cuneate at the base, margin serrulate; lateral veins and somewhat sparse tertiary venation finely raised on both surfaces; petiole 1–4 mm long; stipules linear-lanceolate, 4–5 mm long, 1 mm wide, entire, soon deciduous. Flowers solitary; pedicel 0.5–1(–1.5) cm long, jointed 2.5–4 mm above base. Sepals oblong-elliptic, (6–)8–10 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, becoming red in fruit, 10–14 mm long, 5–6 mm wide. Petals yellow, elliptic-oblanceolate, 9–13 mm long, 3–4 mm wide. Anthers 12–16, 4 mm long, longer than the filaments, opening by apical pores. Carpels 3–4; style shortly 3–4-fid at apex. Drupelets black, ellipsoid, 7–8 mm long, 5–6 mm wide.