Shrub reaching 2-3 m in height; leaves long petioled, alternate, simple, purple-red, broadly deltoid, margin entire, base cordate, apex obtuse; cyathia axillary or terminal, about 1 cm in diam; glands shortly stipitate with small appendage; male flowers develop first, followed by female; flowers pale pink; involucres campanulate, bracts minute, acute; glands oval; stamens slightly exserted; ovary 3-lobed, glabrous, style short, deeply bifid; capsules of 3, 2-valved cocci, separating elastically from the columella, dehiscing ventrally, globose, quite glabrous; seeds tetragonous, transversely rugose, brown.