Tree, sometimes a mallee, to 12 m high. Bark smooth throughout, grey to light brown or red-brown. Juvenile leaves opposite, sessile, decurrent, elliptic to broadly lanceolate, glaucous. Adult leaves lanceolate, uncinate; lamina 8–11 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, dark green, shining, glandular; lateral veins usually faint, at 35°–50°; intramarginal vein up to 2 mm from margin; petiole terete, 15–20 mm long. Umbels 7–11-flowered; peduncle quadrangular, recurved, 10–15 mm long; pedicels quadrangular, 4–10 mm long. Buds urceolate or conical; operculum hemispherical, rostrate, 9–11 mm long, 5–6 mm wide at base; hypanthium urceolate to cylindrical, 5–6 mm long and wide. Fruits urceolate, pendulous, 8–10 mm long, 6–8 mm wide; valves 4, sometimes 5. [For more recent description see subspecies profiles-Editor]
Produces abundant pollen and nectar for honey production from spring to summer. Cultivated successfully in arid areas within Australia, and also in California, Cyprus and northern Africa.
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