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A much-branched evergreen tree c. 10 (up to 25) m. high, or rarely a shrub 3–5 m. tall, entirely glabrous except for the flowers. Bark dark brown to grey, rugged. Leaves petiolate; lamina (4)6–11(15) x 2–4(5·5) cm., elliptic, lanceolate-elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, glabrous, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, the apex obtuse to subacuminate, the base broadly cuneate to rarely rounded, margins coarsely crenate-serrate to subentire with dark glandular dots in the incisions (the most proximal gland on one or both margins of the leaf sometimes conspicuous); petiole 1–2 cm. long, channelled, often reddish; stipules ± linear, 1·5–2·0 cm. long, caducous. Racemes usually solitary, 2–5(8) cm. long, 7–15-flowered, arising from the axils of scales at the base of lateral shoots which may also produce leaves in their upper part; peduncle usually 5–10 mm. long; pedicels (3)5–7(10) mm. long; bracts triangular, small, soon caducous. Perianth (4)5(6)-merous, sometimes irregularly so. Calyx-tube ± cyathiform, (3·0)3·5–4·0(5·0) mm. in diameter at the mouth, rather fleshy, glabrous outside, usually hairy inside; calyx-lobes 1–1·5 mm. long, triangular, glabrous except for the ciliate apex. Petals up to 2 mm. long, creamy-white, elliptic to oblong, reflexed, hairy abaxially especially towards their margins and sometimes adaxially also. Stamens 25–35; filaments c. 1·5 mm. long, glabrous; anthers didymous, 0·5–1·0 mm. long. Ovary ± ovoid, sparsely longhaired; style c. 1·5 mm. long, sparsely haired; stigma peltate, slightly 2-or 3-lobed. Fruit 5–8 x 8–12 mm., transversely ellipsoid, broader than long, slightly didymous and thus appearing as if 2-locular, dry, usually glabrous, red to purplish-brown.