[2] Commonly seen as a densely dark green shrub two metres tall, though it can occasionally attain heights of 10 to 15 m (33 to 49 ft) with a trunk diameter of 25 cm (9.8 in).

Outer bark is greyish brown or grey, fairly smooth but with lenticels.

Leaflets are lenticellate, slender and smooth, and dark reddish brown or grey.

Pale green flowers form on racemes from the leaf axils, either singly, or in twos or threes.

The capsule splits in two, with one to four glossy brown seeds, enclosed in an orange fleshy aril.