Monoecious, large, evergreen shrub or small tree, clumping, irregular, rounded, densely foliated adn medium-textured, reaches a height and spread of 35 ft, but is usually seen in the 15-20 ft range. Leaves simple, alternate, oblanceolate, to 4 in long, often undulate. The thin, olive green leaves are often coarsely serrate along apical margins and dotted with tiny rusty glands on both sides. Multiple crroked trunks are covered with smooth, grayish-white bark. Young stems light green to gray, pubescent. Suckers frequently from trunk bases and roots. Fruit grayish-blue, 0.25 in wide, in dense clusters along the twigs in fall.

Vermifuge (leaves); Alterative, analgesic, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, atipyretic, astringent, carcinogenic, cardiotonic, deobstruent, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, laxative, stimulant.

Plants of Hawai'i

For stomachaches, fever, headaches (leaves); to children with stomachaches, for inflamed tonsils (roots); for fevers (leaves and stem).