Dioecious tree up to 17 m or more tall. Leaves pari-or imparipinnate, 16-25 cm long. Leaflets opposite or subopposite, subsessile, 7-9 in number, 90-120 x 22-32 mm, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous, pale green on the under-surface. Lateral nerves 14-20 pairs, arcuate. Male panicles 8-12 mm long, drooping at post anthesis, female longer and erect. Flowers unisexual, bracteate. Bracts ± 1.2 mm long, lanceolate, apex pubescent. Bracteoles 2, linear, shorter. Sepals 4, less than anthers in length, linear. Stamens 5; anthers c. 1.8 mm long, oblong, reddish. Styles 3-parted to almost the base; stigmas recurved. Drupe 5-6 mm broad, glabrous, dry, rugose, greyish-brown in colour.

Fl. Per.: March-May.

Syntypes: “Eastern slopes of the Suliman range, hills of Trans-Indus territory, and around the Peshawar Valley, between 1200-4000 ft. Salt Range, the Siwalik Tract and outer Himalaya, between 1500-6500 (-8000) ft. from the Indus to the Sarda”.

Distribution: E. Afghanistan, Pakistan, N.W. & W. Himalaya to Kumaon.

The species is occasionally found on exposed hilly slopes from 457-1980 m. Cultivated in the plains for its attractive foliage, which is bright red when young. Healthy trees provide valuable wood for furniture. Often blackish irregular shaped galls appear on the leaves and petioles, which according to Brandis (For Fl., p. 123) are used in native medicine.