Shrub or tree to 10(–20) m tall; bark grey, smooth, but often with foldings; branchlets pubescent. Leaves including petiole 2–10 cm long, on c. 2–4 cm long lateral dwarf shoots and on terminal long shoots; petiole pubescent; rhachis narrowly winged; leaflets in 2–16 pairs, leathery, varying from almost symmetric to very asymmetric, glabrous or sparsely pubescent on midrib, entire. Flowers often produced before the leaves, in pubescent clusters; pedicels 3–5(–7 in fruit) mm long. Sepals 5, elliptic, 1–2 x c. 1 mm, yellowish or cream. Stamens 4–5; filaments 2–5 mm long, glabrous. Ovary 1–2 mm long. Fruit ellipsoid, 10–18 x 8–12 mm, red or orange. Seeds ellipsoid, c. 10–17 x 5–6 mm.