Annualherb, highly scented, glabrous, erect, 30-95 cm; very resinous when dried.  Leaves opposite, sessile, linear or oblong-lanceolate, 5-10 mm long, obtuse or acute at the apex, finely dentate.  Flowers yellow, in small terminal heads, 9-10 mm in diameter, involucre cylindrical, bracts usually 3 in number.  Achenes 6-7 mm long, striate.

Evergreen tree up to 14 m high.  Leaves opposite, entire, glabrous, coriaceous, aromatic, pellucid dotted, petioles 2-3 cm long with swollen reddish base, blade elliptic, 7-13 x 3-6 cm, base cuneate, tip acuminate, mature leaves dark-green, shiny above, paler beneath; inflorescence terminal, 5 cm long of 3-20 flowers in paniculate cymes; flowers reddish; fruits a fleshy drupe 3 x 1.2cm, oblong-obovoid, dark red; seed oblong ca. 1.5 cm long.

nb: angled peduncles and short pedicels ca 5 mm long constitute the clove stems of commerce.