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Leaves opposite; lamina usually c. 4–4·8 x 2–3 cm. but up to 9·5 x 4 cm. (in Tanzania), membranous when young but becoming subcoriaceous, broadly elliptic or ovate-elliptic or narrowly oblong-elliptic, glabrescent above and shiny, tomentose (when young) to densely pubescent beneath even when mature, especially on the nerves and reticulation, rather densely lepidote beneath but most of the scales not quite contiguous, not appearing depressed but leaving depressions, apex shortly acuminate or rounded, base rounded to cordate; lateral nerves 4–7 pairs; petiole 2–4 mm. long, tomentose.
Fruit 2–2·5(3) x 1·2–1·5(1·7) cm., narrowly ovoid-prismatic to ovoid-prismatic, sometimes acuminate at the apex, 4-angled or very narrowly 4-ridged or 4-winged, sometimes woody, tomentellous to glabrous (except for scales), lepidote but scales often hidden by the indumentum, dehiscing fairly readily along the angles.
Shrub up to 2–3(4) m. high, usually ± scandent, or liane; branchlets at first tomentose to densely pubescent; bark coming off in ragged strips leaving an exposed glabrous cinnamon-brown surface.
Inflorescences of usually rather congested axillary spikes 3–5 cm. long including the tomentose peduncle; rhachis tomentose and lepidote; bracts c. 1·5 mm. long, filiform to ligulate, caducous.
Stamen-filaments 4·5–6 mm. long, 2-seriately inserted in the upper half of the upper receptacle; anthers 0·4–0·5(0·7) mm. long.
Lower receptacle c. 1 mm. long; upper receptacle 3–5 mm. long, infundibulifonn, pubescent and lepidote.
Scales with sometimes as few as 15–16 marginal cells, otherwise as for the section.
Petals 1·8–2 x 0·8–1·5 mm., narrowly obovate to spathulate, often emarginate.
Sepals 0·5–0·8 x 1 mm., broadly triangular.
Flowers white or yellowish.
Style 9–10 mm. long.
Disk inconspicuous.
