Small tree 1.5–5 m. high; bark pale grey, corky, peeling in strips; branchlets 4-angular, sparsely to densely setose, becoming glabrescent. Leaf-lamina lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, 5–10 cm. long, 3–7.5 cm. wide subacuminate, base subcordate, margin dentate, setose-ciliate, bullate with sparse short bulbous-based setae, or with dense long bulbous-based setae above, sparsely or densely setose beneath; midrib and 2 pairs of basal longitudinal nerves impressed above, prominent beneath; reticulation subprominent or prominent; petiole 1–2 cm. long. Inflorescence a many-flowered lax or congested terminal paniculate-cyme; bracts caducous; pedicels 2–3 mm. long. Calyx-tube (fig. 9/2, p. 30) urceolate, 9–10 mm. long, 5 mm. in diameter, glabrous (or strigose, but not in the Flora area); lobes persistent, ovate, 4 mm. long, 4 mm. wide, margin ciliate, otherwise glabrous. Petals mauve, trapeziform, ± 18 mm. long, 16 mm. wide. Stamens 10, markedly unequal; 5 large stamens with anthers 10 mm. long, free part of connective arcuate, 8 mm. long, appendage clavate, 1.5 mm. long, filament 11 mm. long; 5 small stamens with anthers 8 mm. long, connective produced 0.5 mm., appendage 1 mm. long, filament 7 mm. long. Fruiting calyx enlarging to 12 mm. long, 6 mm. in diameter; calyx-lobes reflexed; capsule not exserted.Four varieties are recognized, 3 of which occur in the Flora area.