Soft-wooded shrub or small deciduous tree. Bark bronze to pinkish-brown, smooth, watery latex present; branches often covered in stinging hairs.
Leaves alternate, ovate to almost round, 5-15 cm long, slightly fleshy, 3-veined from the base with stinging hairs on both surfaces; apex often pointed, cordate at the base; margin coarsely and unevenly toothed.
Flowers in short axillary clusters, whitish to yellowish-green, covered in stinging hairs, unisexual, normally on different plants.