Tree to 40 m tall, or shrub, the young branches glabrous, the trunk often buttressed. Stipules triangular, c. 1 mm long, caducous. Leaves thinly coriaceous, narrowly oblong, 2.5-8 by 1.4-2.5 cm, cuspidate acuminate at apex, the tip 5-15 mm, cuneate at base; midrib plane above, prominulous beneath; primary veins 8-11 pairs; petioles 4-5 mm long, canaliculate, glabrous. Inflorescence of axillary and rarely terminal racemes or occasionally slightly branched, 4-14 cm long, the rachis glabrous. Flowerspolygamo-dioecious, c. 1.5 mm long. Receptacle broadly cupuliform to flattened saucer-shaped, glabrous on exterior, tomentose within; pedicels up to 2 mm long. Calyx lobes acute, glabrous on exterior. Petals 5. Stamens 2 fertile and 3 sterile stami-nodes opposite. Ovary inserted at base of receptacle, pilose on exterior, unilocular. Style pilose at base, glabrous above, the stigma trifid. Fruit ellipsoid, 1-1.5 cm long; epicarp smooth, glabrous; mesocarp thin, hard; endocarp thin, hard, bony, glabrous within, opening by 2 lateral plates.
Characteristic of peat swamp forest where it is a common large tree, but wide ranging into shorter, more open scrub forest.
Uses. The wood is hard to use because of the silica content, but it is used locally for general construction, posts, and as firewood.
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