Shrubs to 1.5 m tall, glabrous or densely tomentose-villous or with bifid trichomes; frequently multistemmed from underground lignotuber. Leaves alternate, crowded or distant; scarcely petiolate; lamina simple, entire or rarely 3-lobed, obovate to oblanceolate, slightly swollen at base, coriaceous or rigid, pale green or grey-green, densely tomentose when young. Conflorescence 1-flowered or shortly umbel-, raceme-or panicle-like, axillary to previous season's leaves or appearing terminal; bracts present on peduncle. Flowers ±zygomorphic, bisexual, glabrous or densely tomentose outside, glabrous, smooth or wrinkled inside. Perianth tube bulbous at ends, dividing into 4 free lobes. Anthers sessile on inside distal end of tepals. Nectar gland broad or absent. Hypogynous glands absent. Ovary stipitate, oblique to torus, glabrous or densely tomentose or silky-villous; ovules 1-2; style filiform or broad; pollen presenter a large, circular, lateral disc with a central peak. Fruit a woody follicle, tapering at ends. Seed 1, encased in an outer, dark, membranous envelope, split along 1 side and attached at basal end of fruit, flat, winged at ends, pale brown.
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