A large tree; branchlets reddish; bark red inside, exuding a watery sap when cut. Leaves opposite or sub-opposite, 3-16 x 1.5-7.5 cm, elliptic, ovate-oblong or obovate, glabrous, dark green, shining above, glaucous beneath; petiole 0.5-1 cm long, channelled. Cymes axillary, dichotomous, 7.5-12 cm long; peduncle 2.5-6.5 cm long, often red. Flower 5 mm in diameter, whitish; calyx 4-5-lobed, lobes rounded, margin membranous; stamens included, filaments recurved, anthers with a 2-lobed connective. Ovary adnate to the disc; style very short, persistent. Fruit a dry, ovoid, drupe, 1-15 cm long, 1-celled, 1-seeded.