Leaves are decussately opposite, crenulate-serrulate, deep green and glabrous above, paler beneath.

Flowers open in axillary cymes in May to June.

It is widely found in the warm to cool temperate zone.

The wood similar to Buxus genus is used for printing blocks, mosaic works, combs, turneries, furnitures.

Distribution ; Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Korea, Manchuria, Saghalien, China, Himalayas, Sikkim