Shrub about 3 m. tall or medium-sized tree up to 15 m. tall. Leaves imparipinnate; petiole and rhachis up to 21 cm. long, densely puberulous; leaflets up to 11·5 × 5 cm., usually smaller, opposite or alternate, 4–6 (7)-jugate, proximal leaflets broadly ovate, distal leaflets elliptic or lanceolate-elliptic, the others intermediate, apex subacuminate, base rounded (cuneate in terminal leaflets) and asymmetric, lower surface puberulous, especially on nerves; petiolules 1–4 mm. long. Flowers white, appearing with the leaves, very small, crowded, in axillary paniculate cymes; peduncles up to 7 cm. long, puberulous. Calyx 1 mm. long, puberulous, shallowly cupuliform, with minute teeth. Petals 3–4·5 mm. long, puberulous outside. Filaments 1·5–2·5 mm. long, united only at the base, glabrous outside, densely villous in the upper half inside with hairs completely blocking the throat. Appendages deltate-acuminate, 3/4 as long as the anthers; anthers 1·25 mm. long, scarcely apiculate, antherodes shorter, not producing pollen. Disk cupuliform, fleshy, glabrous, free from the staminal tube except at the base. Ovary 3-locular; style 2 mm. long, glabrous; style-head ovoid, with 3 erect stigmatic lobes; ovules collateral. Pistillode similar to the gynoecium but narrower and apparently without vestigial ovules. Capsule c. 1·5 × 1·5 cm., globose, surface smooth, not or scarcely wrinkled, tomentellous, glabrescent, opening by 3 thinly woody valves. Seeds dull dark red, less than 1/3 covered by an orange aril forming a cushion at the apex.
