Shrub or tree up to 7 m. tall. Branchlets subglabrous. Leaves persistent; blade lanceolate-oblong, elliptic or oblanceolate, long acutely acuminate, base attenuate, membranaceous to papyraceous, generally glabrous on both faces (sometimes sparsely and shortly hairy along midrib and nerves beneath only), subentire to crenate-dentate or -subserrate, (8–)12–26 cm. long, (2.5–)3–6.5(–9) cm. broad; midrib distinctly prominent on both faces; lateral nerves (6–)7–10 ± looping pairs, slightly raised as is the rather lax reticulation beneath; petiole 0.5–1.5(–2.5) cm. long; stipules linear, pubescent, ± 5 mm. long and 0.5 mm. broad, tardily caducous. Racemes (2–)3–6-flowered, slender, shortly pubescent, on a peduncle (or rhachis) 1–1.5(–2) cm. long; pedicels slender, at anthesis 1–2, in fruit 2–2.5 cm. long, articulate 3–8 mm. above the base. Sepals subovate-oblong, pubescent outside, ± 6 mm. long, 3 mm. broad. Petals 8, oblanceolate, clawed, glabrous, 7–12 mm. long, (3–)4–7 mm. broad. Filaments 2–3 mm. long; anthers pubescent, 3–4 mm. long. Ovary tomentose; style 4–5 mm. long. Capsule subglobose, 1–1.5 cm. in diameter including the spines, the latter inflated at the base and almost conical, pubescent, 3–6(–8) mm. long. Seeds 2 or 3, pubescent, 6–7 mm. long, 5 mm. broad.
