Glabrous shrub 3 m. tall; young branches covered with maroon bark which flakes and becomes paler with age.. Leaf-blades obovate or sometimes broadly elliptic, 4.6–12.5 cm. long, 1.8–6.6 cm. wide, obtuse or occasionally rounded at apex, acute to cuneate or rarely obtuse at base, coriaceous, slightly shiny above; lateral and tertiary nerves raised on both faces; domatia glabrous or rarely ciliate; petiole 0.4–1 cm. long; stipules triangular-ovate, 2–3 mm. long, obtuse.. Flowers 5-merous, 1–3 per axil, borne singly or in fascicles; inflorescence-branches up to 5 mm. long, not totally obscured by bracteoles; peduncle up to 1 mm. long; upper bracteoles up to 1.5 mm. long, lower bracteoles slightly shorter, not lobed, puberulous.. Calyx-limb reduced to a rim.. Corolla-tube 3.25 mm. long, 2.5 mm. wide at throat; lobes narrowly oblong, 7 mm. long, 1.5–2 mm. wide, obtuse.. Fruit 1.3–2 cm. long, 0.7–1 cm. wide, slightly narrowed towards base; disc surrounded by corky calyx-rim; inflorescence-stalks lengthening to 5–7 mm.. Seeds brownish-olive, 1.2–1.3 cm. long, 0.6 cm. wide; testa loosely attached, with very fine striations.
A tropical plant. It grows in the Usumbara Mountains in Tanzania. It grows in moist evergreen forest between 1,100-1,400 m above sea level.
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