Shrub or small tree 0.9–7(–12) m tall with greyish or blackish-purplish striate branchlets; buds fusiform, 10–15 mm long, 2–3 mm in diameter, the bracts entire, deciduous; slash yellowish. Leaves obovate, oblanceolate or elliptic, 5–20 cm long, 1.5–7 wide, narrowly acuminate at the apex, cuneate to somewhat rounded at the base, curved-serrulate; lateral veins ± 15, gently curving upwards, prominent above and beneath but in depressed grooves above (at least when dry); tertiary venation very finely reticulate, slightly prominent but not very evident; stipules linear, 3–15 mm long, up to 5 mm wide, entire or denticulate-fimbriate at the base, deciduous. Flowers in rather narrow panicles 5–12 cm long, with many short side branches ± 5 mm long, each with 5–6 flowers. Pedicels 5–10 mm long, sometimes lengthening to 16 mm in fruit, jointed 1–3 mm from base. Sepals ovate, obovate-elliptic or almost round, (2–)4–5 mm long, 2–3 mm wide, becoming red and enlarging to 16 mm long, 12 mm wide in fruit. Petals yellow, oblanceolate-oblong or spathulate, 5–7 mm long, 1.5–3 mm wide. Anthers 1.5–2 mm long, equalling the filaments, dehiscing by apical pores. Carpels 5; style 4 mm long; stigma capitate. Drupelets black, compressed-reniform, 10–11 mm long, 7–8 mm wide, 4–5.5 mm thick, attached near the middle. Seeds curved; embryo incumbent, heterocotylous with small cotyledon internal.