[1] Herbert Airy Shaw,[2] the English botanist who first formally described the species, named it after the dense velvety (velutinus in Latin) hair on its branchlets and petioles.

Its smooth, dark grey to black, young branches are covered in dense, rust-colored, velvety hairs.

Its papery to leathery, oblong to lance-shaped leaves are 24-60 by 6.5-12.5 centimeters with rounded apices that end in an abrupt, tapering tip and pointed bases.

The oval to lance-shaped outer petals are 10–14 by 4–6 millimeters with pointed to tapering tips and rounded bases.

The connective tissue between the lobes of the anther forms a hemispherical cap that is covered in dense, minute hairs.