In Australia it naturally occurs from the Richmond River, New South Wales to Cooktown in tropical Queensland.

It is a shrub or bushy tree, sometimes reaching 12 metres tall and with a stem diameter of 40 cm.

Yellow-green flowers form on panicles in the months of October to January (in New South Wales).

The fruit is a prickly three-celled yellow capsule, 9 mm in diameter, maturing in January to February (in New South Wales).

Its bark contains tannins that are used as a colorant: it is used to dye nets, mats, as a kind of house paint, or as a leather preservative in tanning.