A large shrub to medium-sized tree, up to 20 m. Leaves 6-15 cm long, 2-6 cm broad, elliptic or obovate to oblong, glabrous or slightly hairy underneath, subsessile, attenuate at the base, acute-acuminate. Inflorescence a densely flowered terminal raceme, pendulous, up to 50 cm long.

Bracts elliptic-lanceolate; flowers 2-3 cm in diameter; pedicel (1.5-) 3-7 mm long. Sepals 4, free at least above, semicircular, obtuse, 2-3.5 mm long, 1.5-3 mm broad. Petals 4 (-5), elliptic, 6-12 mm long. Stamens in 3 whorls, innermost converted into staminodes. Ovary usually 2-loculed with 1-2 cm long style. Fruit ovoid, 2-6 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, quadrangular. Seeds ovoid, grooved, 1-4 x 0.5-1.5 cm.