原產臺灣全島低中海拔山區、蘭嶼，琉球亦為原產地。常綠灌木或小喬木。樹皮灰色，不規則剝裂，具有多數分枝；小枝四方形，光滑或多少具有毛茸。單葉對生，卵形至卵狀披針形，革質，表面呈有光澤的綠色，背面光滑無毛或略有毛茸，全緣，葉先端凹至鈍。雌雄同株，花單性，黃色，叢生或短總狀花序；雄蕊與萼片對生；雌花頂生或近似頂生，但亦有腋生者，花瓣缺如。果實為蒴果，球形，柱頭宿存，胞間開裂；種子黑色。

Native in the low-altitude mountains in Taiwan island wide, Orchid Island and Ryukyu. An evergreen shrub or small tree. Bark gray, irregularly fissured, with plenty diverging branches; branchlets square, smooth or somewhat villous. Leaves opposite, axillary, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, leathery, upper side shiny green; underside smooth and hairless or slightly furry, entire; leaf apex concave to blunt. Monoecious, unisexual yellow flowers, clustered or short racemes; stamens and sepals opposite; female flowers terminal or nearly terminal, and some axillary, absent of petals. Fruits are globose capsules, stigma persistent, septicidal; seeds black.

全日照或半日照。性喜溫暖至高溫，生育適溫20~30°C，日照60~100%。耐陰、耐旱、抗風。繁殖可用播種、扦插法。栽培介質以砂質壤土為佳。

The plant enjoys full-sun or partial sun, warm to hot climates, best growth temperature 20~30 °C, sunshine 60~100%. Tolerant to shade, drought and wind-resistant. Propagated by seeding and cutting. Sandy loam is preferred for cultivation.

木材淡黃或黃色，材質緻密，不易割裂，可作為雕刻材、印章材及樂器。耐修剪，可作綠籬或盆景。根及葉可入藥做麻醉劑、鎮靜劑。

The timber is light yellow or yellow, dense and resistant to scratch and cut, a great material for engraving, making signets and musical instrument. It’s resilient to pruning and can be cultivated as a hedge or bonsai. The roots and leaves can be made into medicine of anesthetic and sedative.