Shrub or tree 2–8 m high; stems erect, several from a common base, less often solitary, little-branched, up to 8 cm in diameter, longitudinally fissured; branches pale grey with a reticulate pattern of leaf scars. Leaves clustered at branch ends, narrowly lanceolate, sessile, 22–65 cm long, 1–9 cm wide, base clasping, apex acuminate. Inflorescence erect, paniculate, 20–80 cm long with 2–3 branches at each node; flowers in groups of (1–)2–7, pedicels 2–5 mm long, articulated above the middle. Flowers white becoming yellow-green, to 10 mm long, tube 2 mm long, lobes 8 mm long, translucent, 1-ribbed, 1–1.5 mm wide. Fruits orange to scarlet, globose or lobed when several-seeded, 8–14 mm in diameter; seeds brown, globose, ± 6 mm in diameter. Fig. 1, p. 5.