Large or small, evergreen trees, 8 -10 m high, semi-parasitic on roots, drooping branches; young branches purplish, striate; leaves opposite, rarely, alternate, elliptic-ovate, 3-7 X 1.5-3 cm, acute apex, rounded at base, entire, sub-coriaceous; petioles 1-1.5 cm long; flowers in trichotomous panicles, small, 5-merous; panicles shorter than leaves; parianth purpulish brown inside, lobes obovate, minutely ciliate, tube campanulate; stamens 4, exserted, alternating with 4 rounded, obtuse scales of the disc, stigma 3-lobed, alternating with stamens; ovary at first free, half inferior, style elongate, stigmas 2-3 lobed, ovule 2-3 on free central placenta; drupe annulate on top by deciduous perianth, globose, purple-black when ripe;seeds subglobose, hard, ribbed with abundant endosperm.