It is grown ornamentally for its attractive leaves , which are alternate, rounded, shiny, think, to 3 inches long, and for its sweet, rather tasteless and dry fruits, which are sometimes preserved. The fruit is round, white to purple-black, an inch or more in diameter, and contains a ridged stone.
Flowers are small, white, and clustered.
Grows up to elevations of about 500 m. Forms dense thickets. A problem on the island of Raiatea, French Polynesia. Also present on Tahiti. Flowering plants of Jamaica. University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.