An evergreen shrub or small tree, 2—6(—15) m tall, bearing essential-oil glands on all aerial parts which emit a strong anise or anise-like smell when crushed. Leaves alternate, imparipinnately compound, 20—55(—100) cm long, glabrous to villose; petiolules 1—5 mm long; leaflets 7—13(—19), alternate to subopposite, ovate to lanceolate, 3—25 cm x 1—10 cm, the largest ones near the apex, base oblique, margin undulate-crenulate, apex acute-acuminate, densely dotted with pellucid glands. Inflorescence a terminal (rarely axillary), conical panicle, 6—40 cm long; pedicel up to 2 mm long; flowers globose in bud, when opened 6—8 mm in diameter, regular, 5-merous, fragrant; calyx 5-lobed, 0.5—1 mm long, green; petals 5, free, ovate-elliptical, 4—5 mm long, membranaceous, whitish-green; stamens 10, free, filaments geniculate, white, anthers yellow; ovary globose to somewhat pentagonal, about 1 mm long and wide, 5-locular, born on gynophore 0.3—0.5 mm long, style 1 mm long, stigma slightly 5-lobed. Fruit a globose (rarely ovoid) berry, 0.8—1.6 cm in diameter, whitish-green turning pinkish at maturity, 1(—3)-seeded.

Suporific (leaves)

PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Used in baths against rheumatism, or in decoction for nausea during pregnancy (leaves); to treat coughs with fever (decoction of the roots and fruit)