Shrub 0.2–3 m high. Leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, discolorous, glabrous. Inflorescence erect, compact, many-flowered; involucral bracts lanceolate to broadly elliptic, smaller (often much smaller) than leaves directly below, at least partially hairy inside. Flowers bisexual or female, glabrous inside, usually creamy white or white, rarely pinkish. Hypanthium 5.5–13 mm long, circumscissile, with short hairs outside, these mixed with long hairs below circumscission point; style-portion 3.5–10 mm long. Sepals 1.5–5 mm long, hairy outside. Stamens slightly shorter to slightly longer than sepals; anther locules latrorse or semi-latrorse. Ovary distally hairy.