An evergreen tree growing up to 20 meters in height. Bark is brownish-grey, rough with deep vertical wrinkles. Leaves are crowded towards the ends of branchlets, obovate to elliptic, 5 to 10 centimeters long, entire or toothed, the lower surface pale or rust-colored, minutely gland-dotted, and aromatic. Flowers are minute and without perianth. The male flowers, in catkins, are about 7 to 25 millimeters long, with 3 to 4 orbicular bracts. The stamens are 6 to 8. The female flowers are in axillary, erect spikes, 12 to 25 millimeters long, with 2 filiform stigmas. Drupe is sessile, scaly, ovoid, 12 to 18 millimeters in diameter, with the flesh red and the stone wrinkled and pitted.

Aromatic and astringent (bark); carminative, pectoral and stomachic (fruit)

Plants For A Future
Bureau of Plant Industry

The plant is used in the treatment of cholera, heart ailments and stomach diseases. A decoction of the bark is valuable in asthma, diarrhea connected with phthisis, fevers, lung affections, typhoid, dysentery and diuresis. An oil prepared from the bark is dropped into the ears in earache. The bark is eminently useful in amenorrhea, scrofulous and aphthous affections, chronic bronchitis, chronic gonorrhea and gleet, with atony of the digestive apparatus. The powder of the bark is recommended as a snuff in catarrh with headache, and, combined with ginger, as a stimulant application in cholera. With cinnamon it is prescribed for a chronic cough, fever and piles. With vinegar it is applied to strengthen the gums. The bark is chewed to relieve toothaches. The powder or lotion of the is applied to putrid sores. The bark of the tree and the root are employed in decoction in the treatment of wounds, ulcers, scaly skin diseases, and arsenic poisoning. The fruit, when boiled, yields a kind of wax called myrtle wax which is used as a healing application for ulcers. The fruit is useful in digestive disturbances, including diarrhea and dysentery. The kernels of the seeds are used for sweating feet.