Small, almost glabrous tree, 1.5-3 m tall. Leaves opposite in unequal pairs or alternate; petioles obscure or to 1.5 cm long; blades elliptic, gradually acuminate, attenuate and decurrent at base, 3.5-15 cm long, 2-7.5 cm wide, the axils of the lower surface with crisp-villous trichomes. Cymes short, axillary; flowers white, 5-parted, pedicellate; peduncles, pedicels, and calyces enlarged in fruit; calyx with 5 short thick lobes; corolla white, 8-9 mm broad at anthesis, deeply lobed, the lobes acute with a median rib; stamens nearly sessile, to 2 mm long; anthers yellow, rounded on dorsal side, the 2 terminal pores directed inward; style to twice as long as stamens. Berries globose, ca 1 cm diam, purple to brownish at maturity; seeds disk-shaped, ca 2.5 mm diam. Aviles 72, D'Arcy 3988, Woodworth & Vestal 555. Recognized by its nearly glabrous leaves with tufted axils below.