Small tree, shrub or woody climber; branchlets usually pale pinkish brown, pubescent at first, often soon (but not always) glabrescent. Leaves opposite or subopposite; lamina elliptic to elliptic-oblong or rarely subcircular, up to 20 cm. long and 11 cm. wide (often much smaller, ± 10 cm. long, 5 cm. wide), apex usually acuminate, base rounded to cordate, hairy when young, usually glabrescent but sometimes retaining a dense indumentum; lateral nerves 5–9 pairs; petiole up to 7 mm. long, the base forming a blunt spinal process. Inflorescence of axillary spikes, sometimes subcapitate, up to 8 cm. long, often in the axils of fallen leaves; rhachis tomentose. Flowers (fig. 6/40, p. 50) (4–)5-merous, white or pinkish, usually appearing before the leaves. Lower receptacle ± 5 mm. long, tomentose with short often spreading hairs, often somewhat constricted above and below the ovary; upper receptacle with upper part broadly infundibuliform, lower part surrounding the disk subglobose, slightly constricted between the 2 parts, up to 9(–11) mm. long, 4 mm. in diameter, hairy. Sepals triangular, 2 mm. long. Petals elliptic, 7–9 mm. long, 2–3.5 mm. wide, clawed, pilose externally. Stamen-filaments 16–17 mm. long; anthers 1.7–1.8 mm. long, orange-red. Disk glabrous; margin not free. Fruit (fig. 7/40, p. 51) (4–)5-winged, elliptic to subcircular in outline, 2–3(–4.5) cm. long, 2–2.5(–3) cm. wide, pubescent; apical peg very short; wings up to 10 mm. wide; stipe 4–6(–10) mm. long.