Evergreen tree, bark grey, brown or black; leaves obovate-elliptic-oblong, apex rounded or acuminate, base cuneate or acute, lateral nerves 6-8 pairs, entire, glabrous, glossy; stipules large, caducous; inflorescence cauliferous, subtended by glabrous deciduous, leafy scales, young one enclosed within leathery caducous sheath; male heads ellipsoid or clavate with few sterile and fertite flowers; female heads ellipsoid, with style exserted; perianth 2 lobed, thick, fleshy; stigma spathulate; syncarps cylindric, clavate or oblong, covered with pointed tubercles, stalked, hanging from old branches or the trunk; seeds elliptic-oblong, glabrous.