Leaves are densely alternate, coriaceous, elliptic, deep green and lustrous above, opaque pale green beneath.

It grows on the mountainous sterile soils in the warm to the cool temperate zone.

The wood is used for carvings, utensils, turneries. From the bark bird lime is produced. It is planted for garden trees.

Distribution ; Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, China