Shrub or small tree l–9(–15) m. tall; young branches densely covered with rust-coloured peltate scales, becoming glabrescent with age. Leaves petiolate; blades ovate, 5–25 cm. long, 3.3–16.5 cm. wide, apex long acuminate, base cordate or less often truncate (very rarely obtuse), very young leaves with rust-coloured sessile scales beneath, soon becoming glabrescent or glabrous, with 5–6 pairs of lateral nerves, the second pair always arising from the base together with the first pair, prominent beneath; petiole slender, 1.2–13 cm. long, distinctly thickened at the base and apex. Stipules ± lanceolate, 0.4–1.5 cm. long, leaving a very shallow scale-like scar with 2 sessile glands. Panicles or corymbs 8–50-flowered; pedicels 4–12 mm. long, thickened towards apex, densely covered with rusty-red peltate scales; bracts lanceolate to narrowly obovate, 4–7(–10) mm. long, soon caducous, leaving a scale-like scar. Receptacles with (4–)5(–6) pale shining glands, variable in size. Sepals purplish, ovate, concave, 8–12 mm. long, obtuse or rounded, with rust-coloured sessile scales outside. Petals white with light red veins and oblong dots or mauve or bright pink, unequal, obovate, 1.5–3 cm. long, 0.8–2 cm. wide, obtuse to rounded. Filaments 8–14 mm. long; anthers violet or red to purple, 1–1.2 mm. long. Ovary ovoid or subglobose, 2.25–3 mm. wide, covered with dense red blotched bristles; style 12–15 mm. long, thickened towards the apex, glabrous. Capsule variable in shape and colour, rounded with an abrupt short acuminate apex or elongate-ovate with a long acuminate apex, (l.4–)2–4.5 cm. long, (l.7–)2–4 cm. wide, sometimes with a short stipe up to 4 mm. long, densely covered with red to brown stiff bristles, variable in length (there is also a variety with smooth capsules which does not occur in Africa); endocarp detaching, membranous and shiny. Seeds numerous, red-brown, obovoid-angular, 4–5 mm. long; testa studded with minute red glands; funicles 2–3 mm. long, with a disc-shaped apex.
