Description: Shrub, 2-3 m tall, stem quadrangular, exstipulate. Leaves decussate, elliptic to lanceolate or oblanceolate, 10-20 cm x 1.5-10 cm; base cuneate to obtuse; apex acuminate, tip to 1.5 cm long; blade membranous, smooth on both surfaces; margin subentire to remotely toothed; secondary nerves 6-8 on each side; petioles 1.5-7 cm long. Inflorescence terminal, lax cymes, pendulous, elongate, 12-30 cm long, minute pubescent to glabrous; flowers white; pedicels slender, 1-2.5 cm long; bracts and bracteoles linear, 2-4 mm long. Calyx campanulate, tube shorter than calyx lobe; lobes 5, lanceolate, 7-8 x 1-3 mm, slightly enlarged in fruit, reflexed, reddish. Corolla: tube to ca 1 cm long; lobes 5, obovate, subequal, ca 1.2 cm long, narrowed at base, glabrous. Stamens didynamous, inserted within corolla tube; filaments long-exserted; anthers dorsifixed, 2- lobed, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, imperfectly 4-locular, one ovule in each locule; style long-exserted, glabrous; stigma 2-lobed. Drupe fleshy, usually 4-lobed, 1-1.5 cm in diam., shiny, green turning greyish-purple; pyrenes 4. |
