Trees to 20 m tall, evergreen, d.b.h. to 40 cm. Bark grayish brown, bast reddish. Branches densely tomentose when young, glabrescent. Petiole 2-3 mm, pubescent; leaf blade elliptic to ovate-oblong, 6-12 × 2.5-5.6 cm, papery, abaxially villous, adaxially glabrous except for puberulent area along midvein, secondary veins ca. 10 on each side of midvein and slender, reticulate veins conspicuous, base obtuse to rounded, apex shortly acuminate. Inflorescences 1- or 2-flowered. Pedicel 1-2 cm, pubescent, bracteolate. Sepals triangular, ca. 1 × 1 mm. Petals yellowish white; outer petals ca. 11 × 7 mm, outside tomentose, inside glabrescent, apex recurved; inner petals slightly shorter than outer petals. Stamens many; anthers ovoid; connectives apically acute. Carpels 3, tomentose. Monocarps 1 or 2, yellow when ripe, ovoid to ellipsoid, 2-4 × 1.5-2.5 cm, fulvous tomentose. Seeds several per monocarp, grayish brown, orbicular and flat, 1-1.5 cm in diam. Fl. Mar-May, fr. Jun-Aug.

The fruit of Alphonsea mollis are edible when ripe. The wood is used for the construction of carts, agricultural implements, etc.

● Evergreen broad-leaved forests on slopes; 600-1000 m. Guangdong, SW Guangxi, Hainan, S Yunnan.