銀葉樹屬常綠喬木，臺灣原生，中國、東南亞各地、印度、大洋洲及非洲東部海岸均有分佈。成年樹的根基有明顯板根。互生革質長橢圓、倒卵狀長橢圓葉，背面密披銀白色鱗片(故名為銀葉樹)及散生褐色鱗片，葉幼嫩時紅色。萼鐘形4~5裂，內外密披毛，無花瓣。花期4~5月。果扁橢圓形，木質化有光澤，腹縫線上龍骨狀的突起，質輕可藉海水漂送傳播。果期6~10月。

An evergreen tree in the genus Heritiera, native to Taiwan and also found in China, Southeast Asia, India, Oceania, and the eastern coast of Africa. Distinct buttress roots grown in the roots of adult trees. Leaves alternate, leathery, long oval or obovately long oval in shape, densely covered with silver-white scales (hence it’s also known as silver-leaf tree in Chinese) and scattered brown scales on the leaf back. The leaves are red when young. Calyx bell-shaped with 4 to 5 lobes, densely hairy, without petals. Flowering from April to May. Fruit oblate, lignified and shiny; the keel-like protrusions on the abdominal suture are light in weight so they can be spread by seawater. Fruiting from June to October.

全日照溫暖環境，具抗風、耐鹽鹼、耐水浸的特性，既能生長於潮間帶，又能生長在陸地上。以種子繁殖為主，亦可扦插或高壓繁殖。

The plant grows normally in full sun and warm environments; resistant to wind, tolerant to salt and water-logging. It grows both in the intertidal zone and dry land. Mainly propagated from seeds, cuttings or by air layering.

可作庭園景觀樹、行道樹、濱海防風樹種。木材堅硬，為建築、造船和製家具的良材。種子為收斂劑，治腹瀉；樹皮治血尿症。果實可做裝飾品。種子可榨油。

The plant is often planted as garden ornament trees, street trees, coastal windbreaks. The hard wood is a good material for construction, shipbuilding and furniture-making. The seeds can be used as astringent to treat diarrhea; bark treats hematuria. The lovely fruits can be ornaments. The seeds can be pressed for oil.