Shrub or small tree, sometimes straggling, (1–)2–5(–12) m tall with small crown; bark dark grey, ± smooth save for lenticels or flaking; slash crimson red. Leaves coriaceous, ± shiny on both surfaces, oblong-obovate to elliptic, (10–)12–32(–37) cm long, (4–)6–12.5 cm wide, acute to subacuminate or obtuse to rounded at the apex, cuneate, rounded or truncate at the base, serrulate at least towards base or often almost entire, the venation prominent on both surfaces but mostly faint especially above; petiole 3–10(–12) mm long, 3–4 mm wide; stipules narrowly triangular, 2–6.5 mm long, 2 mm wide, scarious, usually deciduous. Flowers in solitary raceme-like inflorescences or in extensive terminal panicles, 10–30 cm long, the cymules 1–11-flowered; peduncle and rhachis ± angular; bracts triangular, 5–6 mm long, acute, soon deciduous; pedicels 7–15 mm long, articulated 2–4 mm from the base. Sepals elliptic, 5–7 mm long, 2–3.5 mm wide, persistent, the fruiting sepals accrescent, red, 8–9 mm long, 4 mm wide; petals yellow or orange, obovate, 6–10 mm long, 4–7 mm wide, unguiculate, deciduous; anthers orange yellow, 3–5 mm long. Drupelets black, ellipsoid or subglobose, 7–10 mm long 4–6 mm wide. Seeds with embryo heterocotylous, the small cotyledon external.
