Shrubs, to 3 m tall. Branches densely and roughly pubescent when young, soon glabrescent, with scattered, stout prickles, compressed in cross-section, oriented downward (sometimes lacking on pressed specimens). Petiole 4-7 cm, densely hirsute; petiolules 3-6 mm or leaflets subsessile; leaflets (3-)5, elliptic or oblanceolate, 6-12 × 3-5 cm, papery, abaxially pubescent on veins, adaxially ± scabrous-pubescent, secondary veins 6-8 pairs, conspicuous, base narrowly cuneate, margin serrate apically, apex acute or acuminate. Inflorescence terminal, a panicle of umbels, borne on leafy shoots, with several umbels, glabrous or slightly pubescent; peduncles 1.5-3.5 cm; pedicels 0.7-1.5 cm. Calyx with 5 teeth, glabrous or slightly pubescent. Ovary 2-5-carpellate; styles united into a column. Fruit black at maturity, ellipsoid-globose, ca. 8 mm; styles persistent, ca. 2 cm, slender. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Sep-Oct.