Small, evergreen shrub, up to 1 m tall, with pubescent twigs. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate to obovate, subsessile, 1-2 (-2.8) cm long, 4-10(-12) mm broad, usually minutely serrate, almost glabrous; those in the flowering region often easily falling. Flowers c. 2 mm across, in almost sessile, axillary clusters. Calyx 4-lobed, 1-1.5 mm long, pubescent to almost glabrous. Corolla 4-lobed, 2-3 mm long. Stamens 4, subsessile with oblong, often purplish anthers overtopping the corolla; style short with large, verrucose stigma. Drupe globose, berry-like, 3-4 mm in diameter, tipped by the style base, smooth, reddish to dark-red, 1-seeded.
Fl. Per.: March-May.
Type: Described from Aethiopia.
Distribution: Widely distributed in Asia and Africa.
It has been recorded from Baluchistan (Harnai and Loralai) and Salt range by R.R. Stewart (l.c.) and Parker (l.c.). A plant of our northern and N.W. regions. It burns quickly, even when green, because of its glandular leaves. The fruit is used as an anthelmentic.
