Shrub, occasionally a tree, 0.5-3 m tall, nodose, glabrous. Stem glabrous except for 1 or 2 subnodal lines of hairs decurrent from petioles. Petiole 0.5-1 cm long, canaliculate, ciliate on margin or keel, vaginate at base only; blade thin-coriaceous to coriaceous, may be somewhat rugose, not scabrous, somewhat glandular-dotted, often bicoloured, sometimes glaucous or whitish below in vivo, drying silvery shiny, lanceolate to oblong to elliptic or ovate, 3-4 x longer than wide, 8-16 x 2-4.7 cm, apex acute to short-acuminate, base equal or almost equally attached to petiole, cuneate or acute, glabrous; pinnately veined, secondary veins 8-12 per side, originating from throughout primary vein, plane to impressed above, prominent below, tertiary veins reticulate. Inflorescence erect; peduncle 0.5-1 cm long; spike 2.5-4(-5) cm long, 0.2-0.5 cm thick, white, yellow or (greyish) green, apiculate; rachis glabrous; floral bracts cucullate, not fringed, often greyish when dried; anthers opening horizontally. Infructescence to 1.2(-2) cm thick; fruits depressed globose, glabrous, stigmas 3, sessile.