A shrub or small tree up to 4m. Bark grey to brownish and rough but pale grey and smoothish when young. Leaves narrowly elliptic, young leaves markedly yellow, mature leaves yellowish-green, conspicuously gland-dotted, aromatic; tapering to base and apex, margin more or less conspicuously serrate. Flowers small, in short spikes; male spike short and squat and rusty-red, with whitish-yellow anthers; female spike longer, more slender and green.

Fruits small, spherical, about 5mm in diameter, bluish-black when ripe, with a waxy coating.

The fruits of this tree, also its stems and leaves, produce oil: that of the fruits is pure and greenish-yellow in colour, while oil produced from stems and leaves has an aromatic smell resembling Eucalytptus. Traditionally, branches used to be immersed in boiling water and a substance known as berry wax (true fat rich in fatty acids) skimmed off as it rose to the surface. Leaves if eaten cause severe headaches.