Erect, unbranched, or sparingly branched, 4 m high shrub, becoming glabrous. Petiole to 40 cm, the clasping base prolonged as a stipular ligule c. 2 cm long, and with few to several prominent recurved, obscurely fimbriate, crests surrounding the lower part of the petiole; blade to 30 cm long, base emarginate, palmately 3-7-lobed, lobes extending to within 3-8 cm from the base, oblong-ovate, margin serrate, sometimes lyrately lobulate, apex acuminate, sinuses broadly rounded. Inflorescence a terminal compound umbel, 10-15 cm ø; peduncle stout, with lanceolate bristle-bearing bracts; primary rays c. 15, 2-3 cm long, 2-3 mm wide, flattened, subtended by lanceolate bracts c. 2 cm long, with bristles on the back and bearing similar opposite terminal bracts c. 1 cm long, each terminating in three branches; central branch c. 4 mm long, slightly pubescent, terminating in an umbellule (c. 1.5 cm ø) of c. 10-15 sterile, bacciform flowers 4-5 mm ø, 2-celled, pedicels 5-8 mm long, subtended by caducous bracts; lateral branches 2.5 cm long (slightly longer as fruits form), without any articulation or bracts except for a caducous small involucre around the terminal head of c. 25-35 sessile or very short-pedicelled flowers, c. 1 cm ø, bracts among the flowers obscure. Calyx rim obsolete. Corolla 4-lobed above, tubular below. Stamens 4, exserted, filaments broad. Ovary subcylindric, obscurely angled, 4-celled. Fruit spherical 9 mm ø, 4-ribbed when dry.
On low-lying, wet ground, in forest, or on forested slopes, 700-800 m.
Home