Leaves are decussately opposite, herbaceous with odor.

White flowers with 5-lobed reddish calyx open in August to September.

This tree is very common in the sunny secondary forests of the cool and warm temperate zone.

The wood is used for clogs. The fruits are used for dyeing. The young leaves are eaten.

Distribution ; Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Korea, Manchuria, Formosa, China, Philippine