Leaves are alternate, gathered at the top of shoots, coriaceous, crenate with caducous tips, deep green and lustrous above, paler green beneath.

Petioles are 20 mm long.

White flowers open in April to June on the top of previous shoots before leaves.

Berries ripen purplish black in October.

It grows on the sea shore in the warm temperate zone.

It is planted for garden trees. From the bark people produce dye for Oshima pongee.

Distribution ; Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Amami Islands