Callicarpa arborea, also known as Tampang besi in Malay, is a type of shrub or small tree that can reach a height of 18 m and begins to flower at around 5 m. The bark of these shrubs is smooth and varies from grey to dark brown. As the stems mature, they become glabrous. The leaf stalk or petioles is 2.5-6.5 cm long with ovate, narrowly ovate, or obovate laminas. Within its 1 mm long sepals are also 4 lobes along the thickened ridges (Bramley, 2022). The colour of its petals is pale rosy, purple. According to Fern, (2014), this species fruit is purplish black in colour and about 2 mm in diameter while Bramley (2022), states that the fruits are dull purple, globose and have 4 one-seeded kernels.

The species of Callicarpa arborea can be found in several countries, including Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Indochina, Singapore, Indonesia, Sumatra, Philippines, New Guinea, and Malaysia. Apparently, this species can be found in Peninsular Malaysia from the north to the southernmost limit of Negeri Sembilan state (Bramley, 2022). This species is known as evergreen in Peninsular Malaysia, but elsewhere it can be deciduous in any dry region (Bramley, 2022).

Both Lam & Bakhuizen (1921) classify Callicarpa arborea as another species which is Callicarpa tomentosa. This confusion arose because of the similarity between the two species. Both species can be easily distinguished by their peduncles. To differentiate, C. arborea peduncles are much longer than C.tomentosa. Its indumentum is shorter and less woolly than C. tomentosa.