A deciduous tree with somewhat horizontally placed branches and furrowed reddish-brown bark. The broadly heart-shaped leaves are spirally arranged with long petioles. Leaves are about 5 -25 cm long and 5-20 cm broad, with a rounded base and shortly pointed tip, leathery above and velvety beneath, usually changes colour from green, yellowish-green to brown when drying out. Small, yellowish flower heads at the nodes of the leaves are seen in groups of 3 on long stalks up to 10 cm long. The fruits are globular, about 10-15 mm in diameter, containing several hairy fruitlets about 4-5 mm long. Seeds are ovoid and bilaterally flattened, with a short wing.