Usually a much-branched shrub, occasionally a small tree up to 4m. Bark grey to greyish-brown. Leaves ovate to elliptic, glossy dark green above, paler green below, thickly textured, apex narrowly rounded, occasionally notched, base tapering, margin entire, sometimes with a few scattered teeth; leaf stalk about 5mm long and covered with glandular hairs; flowers small, greenish, in axils, solitary or in small clusters of 2-4, stamens with brown anthers.

Fruit about the size and shape of peppercorns, purple when ripe.

After: Neville Pillans (1884-1968), botanist and curator at the Bolus Herbarium Cape Town. Assisted Prof. Henry Pearson in selecting the Kirstenbosch site for the future National Botanical Garden.