Tree to c. 10 m high; bark rough and sometimes persistent at base, otherwise trunk smooth and grey. Juvenile lvs opposite for many pairs, sessile, very glaucous, suborbicular to broad-ovate; base cordate; apex obtuse or acute. Adult lvs with petioles 1–2.5 cm long; lamina 4–10 × 1–2.5 cm, oblong-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, subcoriaceous, green or ± glaucous, concolorous; lateral veins diverging at c. 45° to midrib; base symmetric; apex usually acute or mucronate. Fls axillary, in clusters of 3; peduncles 5–10 mm long, flattened; pedicels short. Buds 7–8 mm long, ± clavate, glaucous; operculum hemispheric, much < hypanthium. Stamens white; anthers oblong. Fr. shortly pedicellate, 5–9 × c. 6 mm, cylindric-urceolate, with truncate apex, glaucous; valves 4, deeply sunken; disc narrow, descending.
[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]
Flowering: Jan.–Dec.