Evergreen tree to 25 m or so tall, old specimens with the bark smooth and pink to orange. Leaves narrowly elliptic to narrowly ovate, 10-15 cm long, 2-3 cm wide, bright red at first, the tip finely tapered, midrib yellow and prominent. Flowers in terminal clusters, stamens white, about 1 cm long; late spring to early summer. Fruits about 1.3 cm long, strongly ribbed and with rim teeth.

There are 3 subspecies.

NSW, S Qld.

VIC: Ballarat (Bot. Gds); Balwyn (Maranoa Gds, ptd by Lady Forster, 1923). NSW: Sydney (West Head).

A'Little Gumball' A dwarf form not formally described. PVJ 11(1)44. ['Spit Fire']

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Myrtaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.