A shrub 1 1/2–3 feet, sparingly branched. Branches rigid, stout, black-hoary, naked below; branchlets tawny-tomentose. Leaves rigidly coriaceous, 3–5 by 5/8– 3/4 in. narrowly linear or oblong-lanceolate, acute at the apex, subobtuse at the base, above with scattered curly short hairs and rufous villous midrib, buff-coloured and woolly beneath with villous stout midrib and obscure lateral nerves, margins revolute; petiole 1/6– 1/4 in.; stipules lanceolate-subulate, equalling or exceeding the petiole. Flowers in dense axillary subglobose fascicles; peduncles pedicels and calyx shaggy with tawny hairs. Calyx-lobes subulate-lanceolate, subacute, as long as the tube, about 1/8 in. long, persistent. Berry of the genus (Welw.), 3/8 in. long; pyrenes about 4.