Small tree or shrub to 12 m. high; young branches flexuous, slightly fluted, older bark smooth, ash-grey. Petiole 2–8 mm. long; leaf-blade glabrous, coriaceous, dark green when mature, lanceolate to elliptic, 2.5–6 cm. long, 0.8–2.5 cm. wide, acuminate to obtuse, cuneate to ± rounded at the base; midrib prominent beneath, impressed above; secondary veins inconspicuous. Flowers white, axillary, solitary or in short racemes; buds clavate, 5–7 mm. long; pedicels up to 1 cm. long. Calyx cupuliform, entire, papery, accrescent. Petals 5, slightly hooded at the apex, 6–8 mm. long, 0.8–1.2 mm. wide, recurved when mature. Fertile stamens 3(–4); anthers 1.2–1.8 mm. long. Staminodes 5, opposite the petals; filaments adnate to the petals; anther-thecae 1.5–2.5 mm. long, more elongated than fertile thecae. Ovary 3-partite at base, unilocular at apex; style up to 4 mm. long; stigma 3-lobed, capitate. Fruit an obovoid to ellipsoidal drupe, 7–9 mm. long, partially enclosed by calyx when young, and almost completely so when mature, reddish, bearing remains of persistent style. Fig. 3/9–12.