Large, decidous tree; branches tetragonous, stellately tomentose; leaves petiolate, opposite or whorled, very large, elliptic-ovate, entire, sometime dentate, upper surface glabrous, lower stellate, grey or downy tomentose, lateral nerves 8-10 pairs; flowers numerous in large, erect, branched, terminal panicles; bracts small, narrow, linear, deciduous; calyx campanulate or urceolate, shortly 5-6 lobed, membranous, tomentose, enlarged, in fruit; corolla small, white or violet, tube short, limbs 5-6, glabrous, obliquely spreading; stamens 5-6 or as many as and inserted on the corolla tube, anthers oblong, exserted, filament filiform; ovary 4-celled, 1-ovule in each locule; style linear, tip shortly bifid; drupes ovoid, or globose, densely hirsute, shallowly 4-lobed, brown, 2-4- seeded, enclosed in membranous calyx.