Stem simple, terete. Leaves spreading or slightly drooping, oblong, gradually or subcaudately acuminate, cordate at the base, 9–13 in. long, 3 1/2–4 in. broad, chartaceous, with undulate entire margins, dark green and slightly shining on the upper surface, purple below, minutely puberulous on the midrib and lateral nerves below, otherwise glabrous, 5-nerved at the base, remaining lateral nerves about 7 on each side, subopposite, looped and branched some distance from the margin, prominent below; veins rather lax, distinct below; petiole 1 3/4–3 in. long, terete except for a shallow groove on the upper surface, glabrous; stipules persistent, linear from a broad base, very acute, with recurved folded margins, 1–1 1/4 in. long, about 1/4 in. broad at the base, dark brown, glabrous. Receptacles fasciculate on short very thick cushion-like branchlets borne on the older leafless branches, about 9 in each fascicle, pedunculate, globose, 1 1/4–1 3/4 in. in diam., covered with greenish-white spots, densely tomentose when quite young, becoming pubescent; peduncle 4–5 lin. long, rather stout, glabrous or very minutely puberulous; basal bracts 2, broadly ovate, obtuse, subcoriaceous, about 1 1/2 lin. long, puberulous outside. Ostiole inconspicuous, circular, 2-lipped; bracts all descending into the receptacle, linear-lanceolate, acutely acuminate, 3–3 1/2 lin. long, 1/2 lin. broad, subcoriaceous, keeled, glabrous. Male flowers not seen. Female flowers shortly pedicellate; perianth-segments lanceolate, subacute, glabrous. Achene smooth; style lateral, longer than the achene, with a large fleshy stigma.
