Shrub, sometimes semi-scandent, or small tree to 15 m high; young shoots densely covered with minute appressed hairs. Leaves membranaceous, broadly to narrowly oblong or elliptic, 4.5-13 by 1.5-6 cm; base acute or obtuse; apex narrowed more or less abruptly into an acute or obtuse apiculum; margin entire or occasionally with a few small teeth; midrib prominent; lateral veins arched and meeting within the margin; the midrib below bearing minute crisped or straight hairs, which usually extend on to the later-al veins and occasionally on to the entire lower surface of the lamina; petiole 6-14 mm. Dioecious. Male inflorescences axillary and terminal, panicu-late, 10—15 cm long, densely and minutely hairy; the rachis bearing pairs of pleiochasial branches subtended by small bracts. Male flowers globose, 4-7 mm Ø, receptacle small; tepals 7-8, outer rounded, subcoriaceous, hairy, inner smaller, mem-branaceous; stamens 25-50, connective projecting, anthers subsessile. Female inflorescence similar to male or simple axillary and terminal racemes. Female flowerswith a coriaceous, globular, cupuliform receptacle, 5—8 mm ø, aperture irregularly cleft; carpels numerous, densely packed over the receptacle, ovoid with a short style. Drupes numerous, ovoid, 8 by 5 mm when dry, sessile on a leathery, pilose receptacle with a reflexed margin.
A slender shrub, sometimes semi-scandent or epiphytic, or a small tree with drooping branches. In forest or scrub, often in lower montane rain-forest, 1200-1900 m, but in the western part of its range (NW. Irian, Biak, Moluccas) also near sea-level.
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