Glabrous shrub with stems 0.5–2 m. long; young branchlets subangular on upper part of internode, terete below, becoming terete.. Leaves mostly opposite or subopposite; petiole apparently 2–8 mm. long, but the attenuate lamina expanding with age so that leaves become sessile; lamina coriaceous, dark green, paler beneath, ovate to elliptic, 5–14 cm. long, 2.5–7 cm. wide, ± acuminate at the apex, cuneate to rounded or cordate to attenuate base, 3-nerved from base.. Umbels several in axils and at older nodes below, 3–6-flowered; peduncle 0–3 mm. long; pedicels 1–2 mm. long; bract ovate-triangular from a shallow saucer-shaped base, 1.5–2 mm. long.. Receptacle 1–1.5 mm. long.. Calyx cupular, 1–2 mm. long, ciliate.. Corolla 4–5 cm. long, deep crimson or wine-red (sometimes paler yellow-green when young), paler or greenish over vents, darker tipped; tube narrowed over the filaments, slightly expanded over anthers; basal swelling slight, not rupturing the calyx; tube papillate inside; lobes erect, 7–9 mm. long, upper expanded part linear-elliptic to linear-oblanceolate, 4–6 mm. long, 1 mm. wide.. Filaments inflexed, flattened, slightly corrugated, the last 1 mm. hardened; anthers 2–2.5 mm. long.. Style slightly expanded below stamens, forming only a slight neck, slightly fluted or winged; stigma capitate, 0.7 mm. across.. Berry red or white, obovoid, 9 mm. long, 6 mm. in diameter, with a persistent calyx, sparsely covered in small pimples at least when dried.
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