Small to medium-sized trees or shrubs. Twigs densely hairy. Leaves elliptic to oblong, or ovat-ish, 1.5-7 by 1-3 cm, base acute, apex acute or shortly acuminate, coriaceous, with 4-7 pairs of nerves, venation not conspicuous, hairy when young, glabrescent but remaining hairy underneath, basal glands 0-2, flat. Petiole 0.2-0.5 cm long. Stipules narrowly triangular, 3-4 by 0.7-1 mm, free. Racemes solitary, in axils of extant or fallen leaves, up to 2.5 cm long, peduncle up to 0.5 cm, rachis hairy, pedicels up to 2.5 mm long. Hypanthium 2-2.5 mm high, densely hairy out-side. Perianth segments subequal or at least not regularly differentiated as sepals and petals, 10-12, 1-1.5 mm long, hairy. Stamens 18-28, filaments up to 3 mm, glabrous, anthers 0.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous or with few hairs especially near suture, style up to 2.5 mm long. Fruits transversely ellipsoid, 6-8 by 7-9.5 mm, exocarp glabrous, black when ripe, endocarp glabrous inside. Seed with glabrous testa.
Uses The bark of larger trees is, like that of other species of Prunus, used for native waist-belts (Pullen 148, Mt Hagen area).
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