A small tree or shrub of 12–15 ft., with numerous long, glabrescent or puberulous branches, bearing large, ovate, acuminate, slightly undulate, membranous leaves, 6–9 in. long, 3–7 in. broad, with broadly rounded, almost truncate bases, clustered towards the extremities. Petioles 3–5 in. long. Flowers large, reddish-white or yellow, 3–4 in. diam., in lateral fascicles of 2 to 5 from the axils of fallen leaves on the shoots of a previous year. Stipules subulate-aristate, 1/2–1 in. long. Peduncles 3/4–1 in. Calyx 3-partite. Petals about 10, dilated above, about twice as long as the sepals. Anthers linear, much shorter than the capillary filaments. Ovary rough, with about 5–6 placentas and as many radiating, linear, stigmatic lobes at first obtuse or capitate, terminating the long slender style. Fruit densely echinate with long rather weak spines, separating when ripe into as many more or less recurved valves as there are placentas. The style and stigmas harden and persist a considerable time.
