Shrub or small tree 1–5 m. high, much branched, with bark often peeling and exuding resin. Stems quadrangular at first, eventually terete, glabrous or ± densely rusty-tomentose when young but later always glabrous. Leaves membranous, strictly opposite, petiolate; lamina 2·5–7·5 × 1·5–4 cm., elliptic or oblong to obovate, rounded to obtuse or slightly acuminate at the apex, cuneate or attenuate at the base (never rounded), glabrescent or with a persistent sparse rusty indumentum on the midrib below and rarely also on the lamina, glossy, dark to light green above, concolorous or paler green below (never whitish), with the tertiary venation not prominent and usually inconspicuous below, with dark glandular dots usually ± confined to the apex and margins; petiole 3–8 mm. long, glabrous or rusty-tomentose. Inflorescence terminating main or lateral shoots, cymose, appearing paniculate, few- to many-flowered, pedunculate, with branches quadrangular, ± rusty-tomentose. Sepals (2·5) 3–4 mm. long, elliptic to lanceolate, rusty-tomentose outside, usually glabrescent. Petals up to 6 mm. long, elliptic to obovate, white or yellowish-white streaked with dark purple-red. Fasciclodes glabrous, spathulate, truncate or apiculate. Stamens 5–6 per fascicle; filaments glabrous or sparsely villous. Berry crimson, c. 6 mm. in diam. Seeds c. 3 mm. long.
