Shrubs or trees, 3(–8) m tall; young shoots scaly, otherwise glabrous. Petiole convex, not grooved, 15–30 mm; leaf blade leathery, oblong, 7–16 × 2–5 cm; base cuneate or rounded; apex rounded; abaxial surface pinkish green, scales 1–3 × their own diameter apart, unequal, reddish brown; adaxial surface dark green, without scales. Inflorescence terminal, cymose, 2- or 3-flowered. Flowers fragrant. Pedicel stout, 1.2–1.6 cm, densely scaly; calyx lobes 8–10 mm, oblong-ovate, persistent in fruit, ca. 1.4 cm, scaly at least at base; corolla tubular-campanulate, white, 8–9 cm; outer surface densely scaly; lobes 5, entire; stamens 10, 4.8–5.7 cm; filaments densely pubescent in lower 1/3; anthers 6–7 mm; ovary 5-locular, densely scaly; style slightly longer than corolla, basal part densely scaly. Capsule 25–45 mm.

Scattered forests, thickets on slopes. Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, SE Yunnan.