Leaves are alternate, ovate-elliptic or elliptic, acuminate to abruptly acute at the apex, rounded or obtuse at the base, usually entire, thinly coriaceous, deep green and lustrous above, paler beneath.

Petioles are slender, sometimes reddish, deeply grooved above.

Flowers in May to June on new shoots.

Drupes maturing red in October to November.

This is one of the common trees in the warm-temperate zone of central and western Japan, preferring to grow along ridges.

The wood is used for utensils, turneries.

It is planted for garden trees.

Distribution ; Honshu (Niigata, Ibaragi to west), Shikoku, Kyushu, Formosa, China