Description: A medium-sized forest tree with a straight and cylindrical trunk. Branches are long and hang downward, sometimes appearing like lianas. Leaves are simple, alternate, fairly large, shiny green and smooth above, and arranged regularly along branches. The petioles curve upward sharply and conspicuously, and are swollen toward their apex, narrower at the base. Broken leaves produce a small amount of white latex.

Reproduction: Flowers are very small, in stalkless clusters at the base of leaves, and mature from November to January. Fruits are spherical and turn whitish when mature, with a circular reddish bracht at the base (a remnant of the flowers); because of the red base, they are often mistaken for flowers. Together the small white berry and reddish base look like a little hat. Fruits mature during the dry season and are taken by a variety of birds and mammals.

Distribution: A widespread species, abundant in secondary forests from Panama City to Soberania, less so but still very common in old forest at Barro Colorado. Still common in places around Sherman and even along the upper Chagres, but absent in montane and Santa Rita ridge plots. Always common as a sapling and one of the most regularly encountered species in much of the Canal area. Restricted to forest, not known in open areas or towns.

Similar Species: The sharp upward curve in the petioles is very distinctive, and the way branches hang downward is also a good character. The congener, LK heisac H acuminata, LK2 is less marked in these features -- the petiole is less curved, and the branches do not hang so conspicuously. H. acuminata also has much smaller leaves. Both species have the same odd, hat-like fruits.