A miniature tree up to 7.5 m by 10 cm. Branches graceful, drooping, generally arranged in distant whorls; upright main stems only provided with the stipule-like dwarf leaves. Twigs brownish pubescent, all lateral branches provided with leaves of several successive flushes. Leaves dimorphous, thin, very distichous, closely set with touching margins, the main upright stems and branches only with small leaves. Large leaves oblong-rhomboid, subfalcate, only on the lateral branches, densely brownish pubescent on both surfaces of the young leaves, glabrescent, 1.5-9 by 0.5-3 cm, acute at both ends; midrib slightly elevated beneath, depressed above; 1 or 2 longitudinal nerves on each side of the midrib, visible beneath, obscure above; transverse veinlets obscure on both surfaces. Small leaves stipule-like, falcate, generally appressed to the upper side of the twig, and more or less alternating with the large leaves on the lateral twigs, stipule-like, c. 5 mm long. Inflorescences either with ♂ or female flowers, flowers pinkish white. Male inflorescences fasciculate or racemose, up to 7 cm long, rarely branched in the axils of the large leaves, turned to the underside of the twigs. Male flowers c. 2 mm long, yellowish, shortly pedicelled, minutely bracteate at the base. Calyx deeply (3-)4(-5)-lobed, lobes deltoid, 1.25 mm long, acute, brownish ap-pressed-hairy outside. Petals obovate, irregularly 3-5-fid, 1.25 mm long. Stamens small as compared with other spp. Disk deeply lobed. Pistil rudiments subulate. Female inflorescences: flowers usually solitary, very rarely in a short, up to 2 cm long, spike-like inflorescence. ♀ Flowers sessile, c. 2 mm long. Calyx lobes and petals similar as in the males. Staminodes alternating with the disk lobes. Style columnar c. 0.5 mm, glabrous; stigma capitate. Drupes bright red when fresh, oblong, hanging singly or in pairs from the underside of the twigs, sessile, 1¾-2½ cm long, the stone yellow-white, 1-2 by 0.5-1 cm, acute at both ends, with 6-8 grooves and ridges; hard pericarp 1-1.5 mm diam.
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A shrub or small tree. It grows 7 m high. The stems are hairy, cracked and brown. They are zig-zag shape. The leaves are oblique and overlap along the stem. The flowers are pinkish-white. The fruit are red and oval. They are about 2 cm long and 1 cm wide.
Common species in low woods and secondary forests, in wet places, on granitic sands, and on ridges, sometimes occurring up to 714 m, one collection said to have been found at 1785 m (Mt Kinabalu), fl. April-Aug., fr. throughout the year.
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It is a tropical plant. It grows as an under-storey tree in mixed forests. It grows up to 1,000 m above sea level.
Uses. The hard wood of the main stem is used for making walking sticks and shafts of pikes, spears, and lances. An infusion of the leaves is used against diarrhoea and dysentery. Noorudin reported that in Borneo the roots of this plant are boiled together with jintan itam (seeds of Nigella sativa L.) and bawang merah (Allium cepa L.) for drinking to relieve weariness; also the leaves of it are grinded with the same ingredients for external application towards the same purpose.
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