A shrub from 3–4 to 15–20 feet high or a small tree, puberulous or glabrate, shining. Branches subterete, towards the extremities angular and somewhat compressed. Leaves elliptical, narrowed at both ends, more or less acuminate, firmly chartaceous, 3–8 by 1–3 1/2 in.; lateral veins about 6–8 pairs; petiole 1/4–1 in. or less; stipules much apiculate from a broad sheathing base, 1/5– 1/3 in. long. Flowers tetramerous, 3/16 in. long, ebracteolate, on short puberulous pedicels, many together, in dense terminal corymbs of 2–3 in. diameter with a pair of leaves or foliaceous bracts at the base. Calyx campanulate, green, ebracteolate, puberulous or pubescent, 1/8 in. long; limb unequally 4-cleft; lobes rounded or obtuse, more or less imbricated at least in the bud. Corolla white; tube very short, glabrous outside; throat bearded; lobes 4, 1/4 in. long, oval, glabrous, spreading. Anthers nearly equalling the corolla-lobes; filaments short, compressed. Disk glabrous. Ovary short, 2- or rarely 4-celled; ovules solitary, immersed in the fleshy placentas. Style exserted by 1/4 in., shortly pubescent above, usually undivided. Fruit 2-sulcate, 2-celled, 2-seeded, glabrate, 1/5– 1/4 in. long.
