A much-branched dioecious shrub up to 2 m. Young shoots tomentose, later sparingly puberulous or glabrescent. Petioles 1-5 cm long. Leaf-blade broadly ovate to rhomboid-ovate, (6-) 9-15 x (3-) 6-10 cm, shortly subacutely acuminate, rounded or cuneate, serrate, 5-nerved from the base, sparingly pubescent above and beneath, and more evenly so along the midrib and main veins, later glabrescent, bright green, the veins often reddish. Stipules lanceolate, (3-) 5-7 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, solitary, spicate, shortly pedunculate; the males not seen; the females up to 30 cm long, very densely-flowered, with a puberulous axis and minute ovate bracts, bright red on account of the masses of styles. Female flowers sessile; sepals 3-4, triangular-ovate, 0.7 mm long, acute; ovary subglobose-trilobate, 1 mm diam., densely pubescent; styles ± free to the base, 5-7 mm long, laciniate, bright red.

Type: t. 61 in Burm. f., Fl. Ind. 1768.

Distribution: Country of origin not known for certain, but possibly the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea; widely cultivated as an ornamental in the tropics generally.