A large shrub or small tree, c. 3 m tall. Twigs glabrous, verrucose on account of the prominent lenticels. Perulae pubescent. Petioles 5 mm long. Leaf-blade elliptic-obovate or broadly elliptic, (5-) 8-12 x (3-) 5-7.5 cm, obtuse, rounded or emarginate at the apex, cuneate, rounded or sometimes slightly cordate at the base, entire, chartaceous to thinly coriaceous, lateral nerves 8-15 pairs, scarcely prominent above, prominent beneath, parallel, reaching the margin, tertiary nerves weak; glabrous above, sparingly pubescent beneath, especially along the midrib and nerves. Stipules lanceolate, 2 mm long, acute, glabrous, not persistent. Flowers arranged only in fascicles, which are commonly unisexual, although sometimes bisexual; bracts broadly ovate, 1.5 x 1.5 mm, scarious, puberulous along the midrib without, otherwise glabrous, brown; flowers shortly pedicellate or sessile. Male flowers: pedicels 1 mm long, glabrous; sepals oblong-lanceolate, 2 mm long, acute, glabrous; petals spathulate-flabelliform, 1 mm long; disc pentagonal, 1 mm diam.; stamina) column 1 mm high; anthers 0.5 mm long; pistillode conical, bifid, 0.5 mm long. Female flowers sessile; sepals triangular-ovate, 1.5 mm long, sparingly pubescent outside at the base, otherwise glabrous; petals elliptic-oblong, 1 mm long; outer disc roundly pentagonal, inner disc completely enveloping the ovary, only the styles exserted; ovary 1 mm diam., glabrous; styles 2, bifid, 0.5 mm long. Fruits ovoid, 5-6 mm long, 4 mm diam. when dried, black; pyrene 1, furrowed, 4 x 3 mm, black.

Fl. Per.: September Fr. Per.: April.

Holotype: India, Bihar State, Hazaribagh District, Parasnath Hill, Feb. 1848, J.D. Hooker 458 (K).

Distribution: Pakistan, N. India from Punjab & Himachal Pradesh east to Bihar & Bengal, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan.

Along streams and in damp shady gullies in thorn scrub in valleys; 2300'/ 700 m.