Trees 4–8 m tall; axis monopodial. Bark dark brown; winter buds of leaves terminal or axillary, narrowly conical. Flower buds in pairs, lateral, separated by terminal leaf bud, subglobose, pubescent with yellowish brown trichomes, apex acute. Leaf blade ovate-lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 6–11 × 2.8–5.5 cm, abaxially sparsely pubescent with grayish white appressed trichomes and a cluster of conspicuous gray long trichomes in axils of veins, or sometimes tomentose, veins 5 or 6. Umbellate inflorescences lateral; bracts broadly ovate to elliptic, 6.5–7 mm, papery to leathery, both surfaces pubescent with appressed trichomes; peduncle purplish brown, 5–12 mm, ± pubescent. Pedicels 8–9 mm, slender, pubescent with long, yellow trichomes. Calyx triangular-lanceolate, ca. 0.7 mm. Petals lanceolate, ca. 4 mm. Stamens ca. 1.6 mm; anthers subglobose. Ovary campanulate, ca. 1 mm, pubescent with short gray trichomes; style 1–1.4 mm, glabrous. Fruit red or black (when ripe), oblong, 6–8(–10) × 3.4–4 mm; stones narrowly ellipsoid, ca. 7.5 mm, with few ribs.

Antibacterial, antifungal, hypotensive, antitumor, astringent, diuretic, hepatic and tonic (fruit); astringent, antimalarial and tonic (stem bark); antibacterial, diuretic, hypotensive and a urinary antiseptic (plant)

Plants for a Future

Used principally to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and unusually active secretions including copious sweating, excessive urine, spermatorrhoea and premature ejaculation (herb); for the treatment of arthritis, fever and a wide range of other ailments (fruit, without the seed)