Small tree or shrub, often epiphytic, c. 2-5 m, occasionally c. 15 m; twigs glabrous. Leaves spirally arranged or slightly crowded in pseudo-whorls, stiff-coriaceous, narrowly obovate or oblanceolate, c. (6-)8-15(-21) by (2.5-)3.5-5.5(-6.5) cm, glabrous, the very young ones pubescent; base cuneate, decurrent, top rather abruptly c. 0.5-1 cm acuminate; nerves 7-10 pairs, prominent beneath, reticulations very fine; petiole c. 2-4 cm. Inflorescences almost always on the bare branches below the leaves, fascicles or shortly peduncled pseudo-umbels. Bracts ovate, c. 2 by 1.5 mm, pubescent. Pedicels c. 2-6(-10) mm, pubescent or glabrescent. Sepals in their lower half united into a shallow cup c. 1-2 mm high, free lobes rounded at the top, c. 1-2 mm long. Petals narrowly oblong, c. 9-12 by 1½-2 mm. Filaments slender c. 6-7 mm, anthers c. 1.5-2 mm, oblong. Ovary sessile, ellipsoid, c. 4-5 by 1.5-2 mm, densely pubescent; style c. 2-2.5 mm, stigma thickened. Fruits 1-6, on woody pedicels, globose, ellipsoid or ovoid, c. 2.5-4 by 2-3.5 cm, 2-valved; valves very hard, c. 4-5 mm thick, with large resiniferous cavities, cordate at the base, rugose; funicles inserted up to near the top. Seeds many, irregular in shape, c. 4 mm.
Common in mountain forests (mossy forests) on exposed ridges as a small tree or epiphyte, (400-)1000-2200(-3000) m, in the lower localities at 400 and 600 m apparently exclusively epiphytic.
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Not very abundant in any part of the Philippines, but it is widely distributed and usually found on high mountain ridges. Found in mossy forests at elevations from 600-2,400 metres.
Uses. The fruit is called 'petroleum nut' in the Philippines. It contains a considerable amount of pleasant-smelling oil, composed of dihydroterpene and normal heptane. It burns readily and is therefore used for illuminating purposes. Further it is considered as a universal medicine, cf. Quisumbing Med. Pl. Philip. 1951 353 .
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