Small tree 3.5–6 m tall with rather rough pale brown bark; branches yellow-brown, striate or ± ribbed, lenticellate but later surface peeling in thin papery strips. Leaves drying dark bluish green, ± subcoriaceous, obovate or oblanceolate or oblong-elliptic, 5.5–12 cm long, 2.3–5 cm wide, narrowed to a rounded apex, attenuate-cuneate at the base; margin crenulate-serrate; lateral veins close and prominent; tertiary venation densely reticulate, rather obscure to prominent; petiole 1–2 mm long; stipules narrowly triangular, folded, 4 mm long, entire, soon deciduous. Flowers (1–)3–7 in very short racemiform or subumbellate inflorescences with rhachis up to 5 mm long; pedicels 1.3–2(–3) cm long, jointed at or very near base. Sepals oblong-elliptic, 4–6 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, rounded, becoming deep cherry red in fruit, 8–13 mm long, 5–8 wide. Petals deep yellow, obovate, 7–11 mm long, 5–7 mm wide. Anthers 1–1.5 mm long, 1/3–1/2 as long as the filaments, dehiscing by longitudinal slits. Carpels 6–8 with styles completely united; stigma subglobose. Drupelets ellipsoid, 9–10(–13) mm long, 6.5–8 mm wide.
