It is a small evergreen tree found in Southern China. It can grow up to a height of about 12 metres.
Its leaves are 6-15 cm long and 2.5-6 cm wide, ovate, shiny and alternate in growing pattern.
Flowers are fragrant, white in colour and borne at the ends of branches.
Fruits are grouped 30 - 50 per cluster, each measured 1.2-3cm
in diameter. They are slightly hairy, yellowish brown in colour, containing
one to five jade-green seeds inside. The pulp of the fruit is fleshy and translucent.
It is sweet when mature, but very sour when unripe. The fruit can be preserved
and the dried fruit is often used as Chinese medicine for strengthening the
digestive system. It also contains high vitamin C content.
