A tree 10–26 ft. high, with a rounded or pyramidal crown; bark with longitudinal clefts; young branches rather densely but shortly grey-silky. Leaves lanceolate, acute, up to 4 in. long and 1 in. wide, tapering downwards, coriaceous, glabrous and shining above, greyish and glabrous beneath except near the densely pilose base; lateral nerves many, subparallel, connected by intramarginal loops, prominent on both surfaces; petiole 3 lin. long, grey-pilose. Spikes terminal on the branches, about 3 in. long, very dense; rhachis densely grey-tomentose; peduncle 1 in. long. Perianth pubescent outside; tube 3 lin. long; lobes 1 lin. long, acute, cucullate. Anthers apiculate. Ovary clothed with “snow-white” hairs thrice as long as itself; style as long as the perianth, faintly ribbed, narrowly clavate at the apex.