Medium-sized to large tree. Young parts evenly shortly pale cream to pink-buff pubescent, persistent only on panicle, bud and stipule. Twig 2-3 mm ø at apices, ridged and compressed apically on drying, becoming terete, smooth, stout; stipule scars c. 1.5 mm long at first, ± horizontal, narrowly cuneate. Bud 6-9 by 2-3 mm, narrowly ovoid or slightly falcate. Stipule to 18 by 6 mm, hastate to falcate, acute. Leaves 9.5-14 by 6-8 cm, broadly ovate, thickly coriaceous, cream lepidote beneath; base obtuse; acumen to 1 cm long; margin sometimes slightly revolute; nerves 5-7 pairs, prominent beneath, curved, well spaced, at c. 45°-60°, with or without minute axillary domatia; tertiary nerves at c. 90°, slender, densely scalariform; midrib applanate on upper surface or slightly depressed. Petiole 2.3-3.5 cm long. Panicles to 15 cm long, terminal or axillary, ribbed on drying; singly or doubly branched, branchlets to 5 cm long, lax, bearing to 5 distichous flowers; bracts and bracteoles unknown. Flower bud to 7 by 3 mm, narrowly ovoid, acute. Calyx shortly densely pale pink-grey pubescent outside, glabrous within; lobes ovate, subequal, the inner 2 slightly broader and shorter than the outer 3. Petals pale pink, darkening towards base, oblong, obtuse, only slightly contorted, hardly adhering on falling, shortly pubescent on parts exposed in bud. Stamens 15, closely congested round the ovary and style, subequal; filaments reaching the ovary apex, lorate, abruptly tapering apically; anther as long as filament, narrowly oblong; appendage to connective short, stout, becoming slightly recurved. Ovary small, globose, glabrous; stylopodium indistinct; style 3 times as long as ovary, glabrous, filiform. Fruit calyx subglabrous; 3 longer lobes to 8 by 1.5 cm, spatulate, obtuse, with to 10 by 7 mm ovate saccate thickened base: 2 shorter lobes to 5 by 0.6 cm, linear, similar at base. Nut to 18 by 12 mm, ovoid, densely buff pubescent, acute.