This is a small evergreen tree, sometimes reaching 20 m tall. Sometimes, it grows shrubby or climbing up to 4 m tall; the trunk cylindrical; the bark coarse, greyish-brown to reddish brown; the lower branches sometimes drooping; branchlets slightly angular. The leaves are arranged in opposite pair, with thin stalk; the blades, egg-shaped, lanceolate-elliptic with gradually narrowed top, surface above pale green, whitish beneath. The inflorescences are in terminal panicles or raceme. Flowers are bisexual, bell-shaped, initially yellowish, turning brownish red, with hairs grouped behind the stamens. Fruits are oval in shape, a 1-seeded drupe, with a small apical collar, outside blue to black-red, soft or firm. Seeds are without seed cover or testa.

Alterative, antibacterial, antiseptic, astringent, carminative, disinfectant, diuretic, expectorant, hemostatic, refrigerant, sedative, stimulant.

Herbal Monograph
Herb Information
Daves Garden

4-Vinyl-guatacol, alanine, alpha cucurmene, alpha terpinol, asparagene, beta santalene, beta-sitosterol, borneol, citronellol, eugenol, fructose, geraniol, guaiacol, isoeugenol, linolenic acid, lysine, O-cresol, oleic acid, p-cresol, phenol, serine, sucrose and tannin.

Chronic bronchitis, gonorrhoea, gleet, in chronic cystitis, vomiting and stomach-ache, to burns; in fevers and headache (wood paste). The oil is active against Eberthella typhosa and Escherichia coli. The oil from the seeds is used in skin troubles.

Lung congestion, mild skin irritation from topical application of sandalwood oil.