It is an evergreen small tree or shrub that measures up to 8 m (26 ft) tall, smooth grey bark, young shoots are densely hairy, opposite and elliptical leaves with the entire margin, acuminate apex and wedge-shaped to acuminate base.

The leaves are 2.2–8 cm long and 1.3 cm wide, glossy green and glabrous above and pale green and hairy below when young.

The flowers are hermaphrodite, solitary and axillary or clustered in axillary inflorescences in groups of 2-3 flowers, 4 sepals fused at the base and 4 with free falling white petals .

The fruit is a black sub-globose berry, about 0.8–1 cm diameter .

It is used in popular medicine as remedy for skin diseases.