A shrub or tree, to 25 ft (7.5 m) high, has slender, spreading branches and resinously aromatic foliage. Leaves are opposite, bronze when young, are deep-green and glossy when mature; ovate to ovate-lanceolate, blunt- to sharp-pointed, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 in (4-6.25 cm) long. Flowers are long-stalked, borne singly or as many as 4 together in the leaf axils, have 4 delicate, recurved, white petals and a tuft of 50 to 60 prominent white stamens with pale-yellow anthers. Fruits are 7- to 8-ribbed fruit, oblate, 3/4 to 1 1/2 in (2-4 cm) wide, turns from green to orange as it develops and, when mature, bright-red to deep-scarlet or dark, purplish maroon.

Stomachic, febrifuge and astringent (leaf infusion).

Center for New Crops & Plant Products, at Purdue University
PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation

Ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin (fruit); citronellal, geranial (leaf)

Taken internally as a cold remedy (leaf infusion); used to reduce blood pressure (fruit).