An evergreen, profusely branched, glabrous shrub or a small tree, up to 2-6 m tall. Branches drooping with bark whitish yellow to almost white but on the stem somewhat rugose and grey. Leaves sub-fleshy; petiole l-2.1 cm long; lamina l-5.5 cm long, 0.8-2.3 cm broad, elliptic ovate, acute or mucronate sometimes obtuse; acute or rarely rounded at base; lateral nerves 5-6 pairs. Inflorescence drooping, panicled, 5-31 cm long. Flowers greenish yellow, 3-4 mm across; pedicel l-2 mm long. Calyx c. 1 mm long with round lobes. Corolla campanulate, 4-lobed, c. 3 mm long; apex acute to mucronate, reflexed. Stamens 4, inserted at the base of corolla tube, shorter than the corolla but exserted due to reflexed corolla lobes. Ovary 1-locular, glabrous; style absent; stigma more or less peltate. Fruit a drupe, 2.5-5 mm in diameter, globose, smooth, red or white on maturation.

Lectotype: India, Herb. Linn. 164.l(LINN).

Distribution: Widely distributed in the drier parts of W. Pakistan, Arabia, Palestine, Syria & Africa.

In view of considerable overlap, we have not followed Verdcourt (l.c.) in recognising the infraspecific categories.

The branches are commonly used as a toothbrush. The young branches and the leaves are a favourite fodder for camels. The fruit is eaten when ripe and used medicinally.