Large deciduous tree to 30 m tall with rather narrow irregular crown. Leaves 15-60 cm long, opposite, broadly obovate to oval. Flowers c. 0.7 cm long, white sometimes with pinkish tinge in terminal widely branched pyramidal clusters. Fruits 1.8-2.5 cm long, dry, papery calyx enveloping a hairy stone c. 1 cm with 4 cavities each consisting 1 seed.