A tall deciduous tree, up to 24 m tall, but normally of smaller size with whitish grey smooth bark, younger parts pubescent or glabrous. Leaves alternate or subopposite, broadly elliptic or ovate, 5-10 x 3-5 cm, obtuse or shortly retuse, coriaceous, pubescent when young, secondary nerves 8-14 pairs, prominent beneth, petiole 7-15 mm long. Inflorescence dense globose head, 6-10 mm in diameter, one or more peduncle from the same leaf axil, sometimes branched peduncle equal to pedicel; bracteole very minute, nearly rusty pubescent. Hypanthium 2 mm long, pubescent to glabrous, campanulate, limb 2 mm across, teeth small, broadly triangular. Stamens exserted. Fruit almost glabrous, orbicular, 5 (excluding the beak) x 6 mm, laterally winged, long beaked, beak equal to or longer than the main body of the fruit, yellowish brown, crowded in a globose head.