Glabrous straight-stemmed shrub or small tree 2–7 m. high, with a smooth pale grey bark; branches semi-succulent with large leaf-scars.. Leaves sessile, oblanceolate to lanceolate, to 20 × 6 cm., base cuneate, apex distinctly acuminate, margin entire, midrib prominent on the lower surface; stipules apparently absent.. Cymes in terminal 3-branched umbels on leafless peduncles to 12 cm. long, with primary rays to 6 cm. long forking to to 5 times, occasionally more; bracts sessile, deltoid, ± 4 × 4 cm. when mature, base subcordate, apex acuminate to ± 1.5 cm. long; bracts below the umbels larger and longer.. Cyathia on peduncles to 7 mm. long, or the central one of the umbel to 1 cm. long, ± 1 × 2.5 cm., with barrel-shaped involucres; glands 4, noticeably stipitate, widely spreading, transversely rectangular, ± 2.5 × 7–10 mm., green becoming yellow then red, outer margin crenulate with 6–10 red finger-like processes ± 7 mm. long branching 2–3 times at the tips and terminating in yellow lobed knobs; involucral lobes rounded, ± 3 × 5 mm., margin acutely toothed, the central teeth longer to 1.5 mm., inner surface shortly and densely puberulous.. Male flowers: bracteoles very many, fan-shaped, deeply laciniate, apices ciliate; stamens 16 mm. long.. Female flower: perianth an irregularly lobed rim below the ovary; styles 9.5 mm. long, joined halfway, spreading, with thickened rugulose minutely bifid apices.. Capsule exserted on a curved pedicel to 12 mm. long, subglobose, ± 12 × 14 mm.. Seeds subglobose, slightly compressed laterally and obtusely trigonous, ± 6.5 × 5.5 mm., greyish brown, with minutely roughened surface.. Fig. 85/3–5.
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