Large shrub or small tree up to 12 m tall from the Macleay River, NSW to Cape York, North Queensland in dry and subtropical rainforest and sclerophyll forest. Bark is orange brown, branchlets with fine vertical ridges. Leaves are stiff, slightly glossy, leathery, dark green above, paler below, base tapered, margins coarsely toothed with stiff teeth, petiole to 5 mm.
Photo: Robert Whyte
Fruit is a yellow two valved capsule up to 6 mm diameter. Seed is black with an orange aril and is ripe from March to August.
Photo: Robert Whyte
It is a very hardy plant, though slow growing. A good screen plant as it has a dense habit. Ornamental, reddish new growth. Propagate from fresh seed and possibly cuttings. Orange aril is eaten by birds.
Photo: Robert Whyte
