Shrublet to shrub or small tree (0·3) 1–6 m. high, much branched, with bark peeling or flaking, often corky. Stems terete (sometimes flattened or ± quadrangular above), glabrous to densely rusty-tomentose. Leaves coriaceous, deciduous, usually strictly opposite, subsessile or shortly petiolate; lamina up to 11 × 8 cm. but often much smaller, varying from subrotund to ovate, obovate, or elliptic, acute, obtuse or rounded at the apex, subcordate to rounded or broadly cuneate at the base, glabrous or glabrescent above, varying from glabrous to densely rusty-tomentose below but always white or pallid with conspicuous reticulate venation, the tertiary veins often prominent, with dark glandular dots usually ± confined to the apex and margins; petiole up to 2 (4) mm. long, glabrous or rusty. Inflorescence terminating main or lateral shoots, cymose, appearing paniculate, variable in size and in degree of indumentum, usually pedunculate, branches ± quadrangular. Sepals 3–4 mm. long, elliptic to lanceolate, rusty-tomentose or glabrescent outside. Petals up to 6 mm. long, elliptic to obovate, acute, white or yellowish-white, streaked with dark purple-red. Fasciclodes glabrous, bfid to truncate or apiculate. Stamens 5–6 per fascicle; filaments villous. Berry bright red, c. 10 mm. in diam. Seeds c. 5 mm. long.