Large spreading shrub or small tree up to 8 m. high; bark smooth, grey; long shoots zigzag with lateral branches diverging at an acute angle and ending in a spur shoot.. Leaves spirally arranged on the spur shoots; lamina suborbicular, up to 6.5 cm. long and wide, apex broadly and shortly acuminate, base rounded to subcordate, occasionally decurrent, glabrous; lateral nerves 3–6 pairs; petiole 2–6 cm. long.. Inflorescences of lateral spikes borne on the spur shoots, 2.5–5 cm. long; peduncle densely tomentose; flowers appearing before the leaves.. Lower receptacle densely tomentose; upper receptacle red and tomentose only at the base.. Sepals cream internally, reflexed when mature.. Fruit (fig. 12/2, p. 79) red, suborbicular in outline, 6.5–10 cm. long, 5.5–9.5 cm. wide; body finely pubescent; wings developed beyond the apical peg and the insertion of the stipe, the projections frequently overlapping; stipe up to 1 cm. long, pubescent.
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