A tree, commonly up to 20 m tall, occasionally reaching 50 m with a trunk diameter of 1(—2) m; in open formations with a short, thick bole and a large, spreading crown; in plantations, with a clear bole of 20 m with an erect, lightly-branched crown. Bark smooth, white, grey, yellow-green, grey-green or pinkish grey, shedding in strips or irregular flakes; rough bark may occupy the first 1—2 m of the trunk. Leaves alternate, petiolate, pendulous, (narrowly) lanceolate, 8—30 cm x 0.7—2.0 cm, acuminate, evenly green or grey-green; petiole terete or channelled, 12—15 mm long. Inflorescence an axillary, simple, umbelliform, condensed and reduced dichasium called a conflorescence; umbels solitary, 7—11-flowered; peduncle slender, terete or quadrangular, 6—15 mm long; pedicel slender, 5—12 mm long; flowers regular, bisexual; flowerbuds globular-rostrate or ovoid-conical, divided into a calyx tube or hypanthium (lower part) and the operculum (upper part) which is shed at anthesis. Fruit a dry thin-walled capsule enclosed in a woody hypanthium, opening with 3—5 strongly exserted valves, hemispherical or ovoid, the hypanthium 3—6 mm x 4—10 mm; disk broad, ascending. Seed minute, about 15 per fruit, smooth, yellow-brown.

Used as a powerful antiseptic (leaf essential oil); aromatic, astringent and tonic (plant)

Plants For A Future
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used externally, applied to cuts, skin infections etc, it can also be inhaled for treating blocked nasal passages in colds and coughs, it can be gargled for sore throat and can also be taken internally for a wide range of complaints (leaf essential oil); used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and bladder inflammation, and externally it is applied to cuts etc. (resin).