Trees (3--)6--10(--15) m tall. Bark grayish white. Leaves subopposite; stipules 2, subulate, 4--7 mm, densely rust colored tomentose, early deciduous; petiole 0.5--1.5 cm, with 2 subulate appendages at petiole apex, densely rust colored tomentose; leaf blade oblong, elliptic, or obovate-elliptic, 10--26 X 4--9 cm, papery, abaxially yellow or rust colored pubescent especially on veins but glabrescent, adaxially glabrous or sparsely rust colored pubescent when young, base cuneate, sometimes obtuse, or rounded, apex acuminate, lateral veins 6--11 pairs. Racemes axillary, single or forming complex panicle, 4--8(--17) cm. Flowers clustered, aromatic. Pedicels 3--5 mm, densely tomentose. Sepals 2--3 mm, broadly ovate, outside densely tomentose, inside glabrous. Corolla white, 3.5--5 mm; lobes ovate to subrounded, 1.5--2 mm, glabrous. Stamens inserted in throat; staminodes ca. 1 mm. Ovary ovoid, 1--2 mm, 2-locular. Style short and thick; stigma 2-fid. Fruit green, becoming red, oblong, 2--2.8 X ca. 1 cm, 1-seeded, calyx persistent. Fl. Oct-Feb.
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