Small tree, scandent shrub or liane, 2–7 m. high.. Young branches with short dense spreading and appressed brown pubescence; older stems often remaining densely pubescent for some time, but usually glabrescent and light brown or greyish-cream, with small round prominent lenticels.. Hooks opposite or subopposite.. Leaf-blade ovate, elliptic-obovate or elliptic, 5.5–22.4 cm. long, 2.8–8 cm. broad, from nearly entire to serrate, either softly and densely pubescent on both, or lower surfaces only, or practically glabrous when mature; lateral veins 11–22 pairs, always appressed-pubescent at least on lower surface of leaves.. Stipules persistent, usually still present on second-year twigs, 5–15 mm. long, always digitate-laciniate, with brown indumentum and spreading subulate lobes.. Flowers pedunculate, usually solitary but occasionally 2–4 in one leaf-axil, sweetly scented; bracts small, shaped as stipules.. Sepals ovate, elliptic or oblong, obtuse, with short dense and appressed golden-brown to greenish-grey indumentum, glabrescent in fruit.. Petals oblanceolate to narrowly obovate, 15–20 mm. long, rounded and ciliate at tip, otherwise glabrous, shortly clawed, yellow or white.. Styles 2–4, glabrous, free or fused at base.. Drupe obovoid, l.2–l.5 cm. in diameter, orange, drying straw-coloured or black.. Fig. 1, p. 3.
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