It is a fast-growing, evergreen tree, which is dicotyledonous and angiosperm. It can grow up to 20m tall with a smooth trunk, buttressed at base and with aerial roots. All parts of the tree contain white sticky latex, which are raw material of some kinds of plastic. When the aerial roots reach the ground, they become common roots.
Its leaves are green with yellow-white patches, simple and alternate. It is elliptical and about 25x15cm in size. It is margin entire, texture smooth and leathery, its veins are indistinct and leaf stalks are about 10cm long.
It blooms all the year except winter, not flowering until about 20 years old. Minute male and female flowers are borne on the inner surface of a hollow receptacle.
It has no fully developed fruits in Hong Kong because of the absence of pollinating insects.
