[2] Elmer Drew Merrill, the American botanist who first formally described the species, named it after its shining (nitidus in Latin) leaves.

The pedicels are subtended by oval to oblong bracts that are 2-2.5 millimeters and covered in dense fine hairs.

The narrowly elliptical outer petals are 6-6.5 to 1.5-2 centimeters and sparsely covered in fine hairs on both surfaces.

The inner petals are 2.3 by 1 centimeters and are connected at their margins forming a cone that is wider at the base and narrower at the top.

Its flowers have numerous pistils with oblong carpels that are 1.5 millimeters long and covered in fine hairs.

Its oblong to oval, wrinkled, hairless fruit are 2 centimeters long with rounded tips and pointed bases.