Leaves are alternate, coriaceous and glabrous, oblong, caudate and obtuse the apex, acute at the base, undulately toothed, deep green and lustrous above, yellow-green deneath.

White flowers open in axillary densely 10-30 flowered simple racemes on annotinous shoots in April to May.

Fruits ripening purplish-black in November to December.

This is a common element tree of the warm-temperate forest in southern Japan.

The wood is used for utensils. It is planted as a garden tree.

Distribution ; Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Ryukyu, Cheju Island