Shrub (in Malawi) or tree up to 12 m. high, with white wood. Young branches glabrous, compressed with finely striate surface or sometimes strongly ribbed. Leaves coriaceous, glabrous, smooth, drying ± concolorous brown or green; petiole 3-10 mm, long; lamina 5·5–12·25 x 3·25–6·7 cm., ovate or ovate-elliptic, with apex obtuse or acute and base rounded or cuneate; upper surface glossy, with midrib impressed and lateral veins level or faintly raised or impressed, inconspicuous; lower surface mat, with midrib raised and lateral veins level or faintly raised; lateral veins looped to join their neighbours. Inflorescences contracted axillary cymes; flowers white, fragrant. Calyx 2·5–3·5 mm. long, lobes ovate-acuminate, sparsely pilose, ciliate. Corolla tube c. 10 mm. long, the outer surface very sparsely and minutely pubescent, the inner surface pilose in the upper half, wrinkled below; corolla lobes c. 3 mm. long, broadly ovate-cuspidate, glabrous on both surfaces, ciliate. Stamens inserted at the top of the corolla tube so that the anther tips are just visible at anthesis; anthers c. 1·3 mm. long. Ovary c. 1 mm. long, ellipsoid. Fruit 2·5–3·2 x 2–2·5 cm. (dried), 2-seeded, ovoid. Seeds c. 8·5 x 7·5 mm.