A tree about 20 ft. high, glabrous in all parts. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, obtusely acuminate, deltoid at the base, 3 1/2–6 in. long, 1–2 in. broad, rigidly coriaceous; lateral nerves 8–10 on each side, looped, loops extending to within 1 lin. of the leaf-margin, very slightly raised below, not evident above; veins lax and inconspicuous; petiole slightly wrinkled, 4–5 lin. long. Flowers in terminal or axillary spicate clusters; clusters alternate, distichous, 9–14 to each inflorescence; bracts coriaceous, outer keeled and mucronate, inner doubly keeled. Male flowers sessile in bud, at length with a stout pedicel about 4 lin. long. Sepals oblong, apex slightly hooded, 3 1/2 lin. long, 1 1/4 lin. broad. Petals obovate, subtruncate, 1 lin. long. Disk subsinuately lobed, glabrous. Stamens 5; filaments free to the base, very stout, at first very short, at length 1 1/2 lin. long; anthers nearly 1 lin. long. Rudimentary ovary trifid, glabrous. Female flowers solitary. Ovary 3-celled; stigma sessile, obsoletely trilobed. Capsule subglobose; valves a little over 1 in. long, very thick and hard. Seeds somewhat reniform, shining.
