Small shrub 1–2 m. tall with stiff, greyish-brown branches, glabrous or occasionally with a short, coarse pubescence. Leaves alternate or crowded on short lateral spurs; lamina 1.2–3.5 x 0.4–1.5 cm., elliptic or oblanceolate, apex rounded or emarginate, apiculate, cuneate at the base, glabrous on both sides or sparsely pubescent; petiole up to 5 mm. long, pubescent, at least on the upper side. Flowers solitary in the axils of the leaves but becoming racemose in appearance on the short side shoots; pedicels up to 2 cm. long, glabrous or pubescent. Sepals c. 0.9 x 0.8 cm., very broadly ovate, subacute at the apex, subequal, the upper and lower very concave, pubescent on the margins, sometimes pubescent outside; lateral sepals pubescent on the margins. Petals 0. Androgynophore c. 2 cm. long, slightly declinate, with a basal flask-shaped nectary c. 7 x 3.5 mm. having a recurved neck and dentate mouth. Stamens 5–6, filaments c. 1 cm. long, glabrous; anthers 3 x 1.5 mm., oblong. Gynophore c. 1 cm. long, glabrous or minutely puberulous. Ovary narrowly cylindric, glabrous or minutely puberulous; ovules numerous, on 2 placentas; stigma sessile, capitate. Fruit 3–4 x 0.4 cm., narrowly cylindric, sub-torulose, minutely verrucose, many-seeded. Seeds c. 2.5 mm. in diam., sub-reniform, dark brown, with concentric rugose ridges, embedded in a bright orange or scarlet, powdery matrix.