Shrub or tree up to 6 m. tall, sts depressed on exposed coastal rocks (with rolled lvs); branches with rough dark to light grey bark; branchlets slender, pubescent. Lvs on slender pubescent petioles 5–16 mm. long. Stipules short, triangular, pubescent, acute. Lamina coriac., light green, glossy, elliptic-oblong to obovate, obtuse, cuneatly narrowed to base, "of male plant 41 by 23, 34 by 20, petiole 5 mm, of female plant usually larger, 61 by 29, 52 by 25, petiole 5–16 mm." Margins recurved, reticulated veins evident below. ♂ clustered on slender peduncles 5–10 mm. long; calyx 0; corolla funnelform, lobes oblong-triangular, acute, ± = tube. ♀ us. 3 together on slender pubescent peduncles; calyx-teeth very short; corolla-tube broadly tubular, long, lobes subacute, < tube. Drupe reddish, ovoid, "smaller ones ovoid, 7 by 6, 9 by 7·5 mm., larger ones compressed, more or less distinctly 2-lobed, 10 by 10 mm."
[From: Allan (1961) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 1.]