Shrubs 0.5-2 m or more tall. Branches reddish brown, glabrous. Leaves opposite; petiole ca. 1 mm; leaf blade reddish brown on both surfaces when dried, obovate, elliptic-oblong, or lanceolate, 2-5 × 0.5-1.5 cm, papery to thinly leathery, both surfaces glabrous, base broadly or narrowly cuneate, apex obtuse or acute; lateral veins dense, slender, at narrow angle to midrib. Inflorescences terminal, capitate, several flowered; peduncle 0.5-1 cm, glabrous. Pedicel 1-2 mm. Calyx yellowish green, 7-12 mm, exterior glabrescent; lobes 4, broadly ovate to oblong, ca. 3 mm, apex acute or obtuse. Stamens 8. Disk scales often 2 or 4. Ovary obovoid or ellipsoid, glabrous or apex sparsely pubescent; style very short; stigma capitate. Drupe red to dark purple, ellipsoid, 7-8 mm. Fl. and fr. summer-autumn.