Shrub or small tree 0.9–2.5 m. tall, mostly with a single stem and with leaves restricted to the apex but also reported to be a climber in Angola.. Leaves ovate or rounded-ovate, 11–36(–60) cm. long, 3.8–32 cm. wide, acute to subacuminate at the apex, obtuse to subcordate at the base, the margin entire to very coarsely toothed, slightly bristly pilose above but scarcely scabrid, with short ± soft spreading pubescence beneath or glabrescent; venation very reticulate beneath; petiole 1–12(–30) cm. long.. Cymes aggregated into very dense ovoid heads 15–17.5(–20) cm. long, 6–9 cm. wide; pedicels 5 mm. long; bracts lanceolate or oblanceolate, 1.7–3 cm. long, 1.5–2.5 cm. wide, acuminate, pubescent; bracteoles 1–1.3 cm. long.. Calyx reddish purple, densely pubescent; tube campanulate, 0.6–1.6 cm. long, deeply 5-lobed; lobes lanceolate, ± 1.5–2 cm. long, 3–7 mm. wide, acuminate.. Corolla cream; tube slender, curved, 12–14.5(–17.5) cm. long, pubescent; lobes unequal, 1.7 cm. long, 7 mm. wide.. Stamens and style exserted 2–3 cm.. Fruit dark greenish black, 1.3 cm. long, 1.2 cm. wide, shiny.. Fig. 12/10–12, p. 96.
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