Erect dioec. shrub up to 3 m. tall; lvs on stout petioles up to 1 cm. or more long; lamina subcoriac., 5-12 × 2-5 cm., narrow- to broad- lanceolate, acute to acuminate, coarsely bluntly serrate or occ. lvs sub- entire. Fls in close-set fascicles, on slender decurved pedicels; ♂ with ovate sepals free nearly to base, and petals nearly twice the length, revolute at apex. Scale of anthers cuneate-spathulate. ♀ on pedicel ± 2 mm. long; sepals ± 2.5 mm. long, ovate, purple, white-margined; petals ± 3·5 mm. long, ovate, purple where exposed, white below; style short. 2-fid. Berry ovoid to subglobose, white, occ. purple-flecked, (5)-6-7 mm. diam. Seeds (2)-3-4, strophiole small.

2n = 32

2n = 32

n = 16