Bush or small tree; stem with ridges, pubescent when young, glabrous and with grey bark when mature, wood yellow, very hard; leaves with 7-19-leaflets, 5-12 cm; petiole 1.0-2.5 cm, pubescent; terminal leaflet 1.2-5.0 cm long, 0.3-1.7 cm wide, other leaflets 1.3-3.6 cm long, 0.4-1.9 cm wide, papery, ovate or elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, the lower ones shorter, base obtuse to rounded, apex obtuse, emarginate or deeply excised, margin revolute, upper face glabrous, brilliant and finely reticulate; under face glabrous except for pubescent midrib, opaque and finely reticulate; flowers in axillary panicles, 3-5 cm, with dense hairs, brilliant; calyx 3-4 mm, base pointed, with two lips, membranous, not dehiscent, with rusty hairs, and transversely reticulate venation; one seed. Common names: ciruelillo, guayacán blanco, guayacancillo, guayacancillo de costa. Species endemic with diverse habitats.