Shrub or small tree up to 6 m tall, usually smaller. Leaves mostly elliptic or obovate. In­florescence a 5—12-flowered, bracteate fas­cicle; bracts up to 5 mm long, subulate. Petals greenish white turning yellow with age. Stami­nal tube white, 10—15 mm long. Capsule 7 X 15 mm, 10-valved, depressed-globose, shal­lowly sulcate, glabrous, leathery or thinly woody. Seeds black, 5x3 mm, with a small orange or red aril completely concealed except for a horn-like extension which protrudes be­yond the apex of the seed. Chromosome number. 2n = 50 (Zimbabwe). Fig. 11: 1.