Slender shrub or small tree, with few or no branches, occasionally prostrate or subscandent, sometimes reaching 5-6 m. Buds enclosed in few broadly ovate cataphylls. Leaves dispersed along the shoots; petiole 4-10 cm, channelled above, slightly dilated at base and with a small to obscure ligule within the petiole; blade 7-15 by 3-7 cm, coriaceous, with pellucid glands, usually ovate, elliptic or oblong, occasionally irregularly lobed, base rounded to broadly cuneate, apex acute, margin entire, often undulate, midrib and lateral veins prominent, frequently with 3 distinct principal veins. Umbel terminal, simple, or occasionally compound, single or two borne side by side, with c. 20 flowers; peduncle and secondary rays (if present) usually rather short (1.5-3.5 cm), but occasionally much longer (to 13 cm); pedicels c. 1.25-1.5 cm (occasionally to 3 cm), elongating slightly in fruit, bracts ovate caducous. Flowers sexually dimorphic, males predominate in lateral umbellules. Calyx margin minute. Petals triangular, c. 2.5 mm long. Stamens 5. Ovary 4-6-celled, reduced in male flowers; disk fleshy, conical with 4-6 styles, at first erect, but the free upper half spreading in fruit. Fruit globose or ellipsoid, succulent, 4-6-ribbed when dry, 5-10 by 6-12 mm, crowned by the persistent spreading styles.
Local in montane, mossy forest, and alpine thickets, 1700-3100 m.
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