a shrub or a tree, 8–20 ft. high; branchlets glabrous or pubescent when young, with a greyish or pale brown bark; leaves petioled, lanceolate, sometimes subfalcate, long and gradually tapering and acute at both ends, 3–6 in. long, 1/2–1 (rarely to 1 1/2) in. broad, thinly coriaceous, concolorous, densely pubescent in bud, very soon becoming glabrous and shining above; lateral nerves numerous, joining into a more or less distinct submarginal nerve, like the veins slightly raised; petiole up to 1/2 in. long, glabrous or pubescent; inflorescence spicate, shortly peduncled, cylindric, 3–6 (rarely 2) in. long; rhachis greyish-pubescent; bracts concave, broad-ovate, acute or obtuse, 1/2 lin. long; adult flower-bud slightly curved, with a tube gradually tapering upwards and an oblong or oblong-obovoid obtuse limb, minutely and adpressedly pubescent, 4 1/2–5 1/2 lin. long; flower pale yellowish; perianth splitting to or almost to the base, sheath flattened out, spreading, recurved in the upper part; limbs oblong, subobtuse, 1 1/2 lin. long, those of the sheath usually at length separating; anthers subsessile, linear-oblong, 1–1 1/4 lin. long, apical gland minute, ovoid-globose; hypogynous scales triangular, usually acute or acuminate, to over 1/2 lin. long; ovary ovoid, 1/2– 3/4 lin. long, covered with whitish or (when dry) yellow hairs up to 3 lin. long; style 3 1/2–4 1/2 lin. long, gently curved upwards; stigma subclavate-cylindric, obtuse, up to 1 lin. long, gradually or with a faint bend passing into the style; fruit globose-ovoid, 2–2 1/2 lin. long, long-villous. null
