Suffrutescent herb, bushy or scandent, ± 1–4 m.. Stem and branches subterete, finely striate, glabrous or with a few very scattered multicellular hairs, for a variable length below the inflorescence with a glaucous waxy bloom.. Leaves broadly lanceolate-to subcordate-ovate, acute or shortly acuminate, glabrous or with scattered short multicellular hairs on the lower surface, especially near the base; lamina of the leaves from the central part of the stem 2.5–8 × 1.8–4.5 cm., very shortly cuneate to truncate or subcordate at the base, with a 1.3 cm. petiole; upper and branch leaves smaller, often narrower, more shortly petiolate.. Inflorescence of axillary simple or branched spike-like condensed thyrses ± 6–21 cm. long, formed of usually ± distant ± 1–8-flowered clusters 1–8 mm. in diameter, with a broad terminal leafless panicle up to ± 35 cm. long at the ends of the branches, formed of similar thyrses.. Bracts and bracteoles broadly deltoid, acute, 1.25–2 mm., membranous with a dark vitta along the central nerve, ciliate with multicellular hairs.. Perianth-segments elliptic-oblong, 2 mm., acute, subcucullate at the apex, 1-nerved with a dark vitta along the nerve, glabrous.. Free portion of filaments much longer than the very short sheath, sinuses rounded with no intermediate teeth.. Stigmas 2–3, longer than the style. Ovary 2–4-ovulate [6–7(–11)-ovulate in one gathering from Somalia, described as var. pluriovulata Suesseng.].. Capsule ovoid, included, rounded and faintly rugose-incrassate at the apex.. Seeds ± 1 mm., compressed, black, shining, with a very fine reticulate pattern.
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