Shrub or small tree, 1–6 m. high, often with corky bark. Stems terete; dormant buds densely rusty-tomentose; stems varying from glabrous to densely rusty-tomentose. Leaves deciduous, strictly opposite, shortly petiolate; blades variable in shape, subrotund, ovate, obovate, elliptic up to 9 cm. long and 6.5 cm. broad, often much smaller, acute, obtuse or rounded at the apex, subcordate, rounded or broadly cuneate at the base, varying from glabrous to densely rusty-tomentose below, with a conspicuous reticulation showing on the pallid less tomentose surfaces, sometimes with scattered glandular dots, glabrous or glabrescent above. Inflorescence terminating either main or lateral shoots, variable in size and degree of indumentum, usually pedunculate, appearing paniculate. Sepals ovate-elliptic, about 3 mm. long. Petals elliptic, up to 6 mm. long, with linear glands, white marked with red or purple. Stamens 5 per bundle; filaments villous. Staminodes fleshy, glabrous. Berry red, about 10 mm. in diameter. Seeds about 5 mm. long. Fig. 4, p. 17.