The plant grows as a
shrub or small
tree and reaches a height of up to with a
trunk diameter of up to . Exhibiting a pyramidal shape, the plant is
glabrous with gray to blackish bark characterized by lengthwise
fissures. The slender, round
branchlets end with sparse
leaves, tips being purplish and shiny while older parts are gray, bearing prominent
leaf scars. The leaves are
oblong to
elliptic, with an
acuminate apex and a
cuneate base extending to the
petiole. Initially membranaceous, they become thin-
coriaceous and nearly impunctate with age, brittle and shiny on both sides, with
serrate edges, measuring in length and in width. The prominent
midrib is noticeable on both sides with numerous close lateral
veins forming an irregular network. The petiole is long, while the
ovate-
lanceolate stipules, long, are
caducous, leaving scars broad. Short-
pedunculate pyramidal
panicles arise from the upper 1 to 3
axils, measuring in length and in width, and consist of densely flowered
spikes. The minute, white or
cream, scented
flowers are nearly
stalkless and appear 1 to 3 together on the slender, angular-compressed
rachis. The flowers are characterized by 4 membranaceous
sepals, long, which are caducous. They contain 8
stamens, alternately longer and shorter, separated by disk-like appendages, with the
ovoid, glabrous
ovary housing 4 to 6 short radiate
stigmas. The
indehiscent berry-like
fruit is not yet known in its fully mature state and contains 1 to 3
arillate
seeds. == Taxonomy ==