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Leaves decussate-opposite, large, somewhat clustered towards the ends of branchlets; lamina of the median leaves up to 25(32) × 14 cm, smaller immediately below the inflorescence (up to 10 × 8 cm), oblong-ovate to broadly ovate or oblong, shortly acuminate at the apex, ± cordate or sometimes rounded at the base, entire to remotely and irregularly obtusely dentate, coarsely crenate in the upper 1/2–1/3, membranous, sparsely pubescent above, more densely pubescent beneath particularly on the venation, with 2–3 pairs of basal nerves, the reticulation slightly raised beneath; petiole 0.9–15.7 cm long, 1.7–3.5(4)-times shorter than the lamina in the larger leaves, indumentum as for the branches.
A weak-stemmed shrub to 3 m high or subshrub to 1.2 m high; stems dark grey, erect and sparsely branched or arching and scandent to c. 5 m, up to 5 cm in diameter at the base, lenticelled; branches green, hollow, young growth with a double indumentum of short densely patent hairs interspersed with longer spreading multicellular, pale to reddish hairs, older branches glabrescent, or only with short hairs; persistent spine-like or hooked petiole bases absent.
Calyx light green, 18–24(26) mm long (total length), the tube obconical and slightly contracted above, uniformly shortly densely pilose; lobes pale green on drying (light green sometimes tipped with pink when fresh), 4–8.5 mm wide, oblong-lanceolate, attenuate towards the acute or sometimes cuspidate apex, erect, longitudinally nerved but without raised reticulation, shortly and densely ciliate at the margin, with cilia c. 0.5–1 mm long.
Inflorescences terminal, subglobose or semi-globose, 2.5–5.5 × 3–5.5 cm (without the corollas), surrounded by the upper leaves; bracts 1.2–2.5 × 0.45–1.5 cm, lanceolate to elliptic, acuminate at the apex, suddenly narrowed into a stipe-like base, pubescent.
Corolla white, or the tube sometimes greenish-white; tube 7.5–12.5 cm long, rather curved above, with short glandular hairs outside; lobes 13–18 × 5–8 mm, oblong; limb-bud 9–10 × 6–8 mm, ovoid, subdeflexed, with glandular hairs.
Fruit 12 mm long, nearly black (purple when fresh?).
Stamens exserted for 3.5–4 cm; style greenish.
