A slow-growing shrub 3 to 10 ft (1-3 m) tall; sometimes a tree to 23 ft (7 m); with grayish bark, hairy young shoots and cylindrical or slightly flattened branchlets. Leaves are evergreen, grayish, 1 1/3 to 5 1/2 in (3.5-14 cm) long and 1 to 3 1/8 (2.5-8 cm wide), are stiff, oblong, elliptic, ovate or obovate, sometimes finely toothed; scantily hairy on the upperside but coated beneath with pale or rusty hairs and distinctly dotted with glands. Flowers, borne singly or in clusters of 3 in the leaf axils, are white and have 150 to 200 prominent stamens. Fruit, round or pear-shaped, is from 1/8 to 1 in (1-2.5 cm) wide, with yellow skin, thick, pale-yellowish flesh surrounding the white central pulp, and of acid, resinous, slightly strawberry-like flavor.

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

Decoctions of leaves, bark and roots are used traditionally against urinary diseases, diarrhea, dysentery, varicose veins and ulcers. A leaf decoction is taken to relieve colds and bronchitis.