Shrub or tree, (3-)5-20(-30) m, occasionally epiphytic. Leaves spirally arranged or in pseudo-whorls of 3-6, elliptic to narrowly elliptic, c. 5-18 by 2.5-6 cm, subcoriaceous; base broadly cuneate, margin slightly recurved, top c. ½-1½ cm rather abruptly acuminate, nerves c. 5-8 pairs, reticulations fine, tessellate; petiole c. 1½-2½ cm. Inflorescences generally on the bare branches below the leaves, variously densely branched and flowered; peduncles pubescent, occasionally up to c. 3 cm. Bracts ovate, c. 1.5-1 mm, caducous. Pedicels up to c. 6 mm. Sepals united at their base in a shallow cup c. 1.5-2 mm high, short free lobes rounded at the top. Petals (4-)5-6(-7) by (1-)2(-3) mm, narrowly elliptic, rounded. Stamens c. 4-5 mm, filaments c. 3-5 by 0.5 mm, anthers oblong, 0.75-2 mm. Ovary subsessile, ellipsoid or obovoid, c. 2-3 by 1-1.5 mm, brownish pubescent; style 1-3 mm, stigma 2-lobed. Fruits varying in number, on woody pedicels, compressed globose, c. (7-) 10-12(-15) mm diam., 2-valved, mucronate, valves hard, c. 1-2 mm thick, wrinkled, placentas up to near the top. Seeds numerous, very irregular-roundish, flat, c. 2-3 mm diam.
Substage tree in rain-forests and on banks of forest streams, occasionally in mountain forests and in mossy oak forests, 0-3200 m, mostly above 1000 m.
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