A polygamo-dioecious shrub, 1-2 m tall. Twigs pubescent, glandular and sticky. Leaves 1-3 cm long, 2-5.5 cm broad, orbicular or reniform, obscurely 3-5-lobed; lobes inciso-crenate, obtuse, dorsally covered with stiff glandular hairs, basal nerves 3-5 ; petioles 0.7-3 cm long, pubescent and gandular. Male racemes 2-5 cm long, 15-30-flowered; bracts linear-lanceolate, 2-3 mm long, margin glandular ciliate. Flowers small, c. 5 mm long, greenish or yellowish. Calyx tube 2 mm long, glandular, scarcely produced above the ovary, lobes ovate. Petals spathulate. Stamens as long as the petals. Style 2-3 fid. Female racemes 1-2.2 cm long, 5-15-flowered. Female flowers similar, c. 3 mm long. Berries deep red, slightly pubescent and glandular, c. 6 mm in diameter.

Fl. Per.: April-June.

Type: Described from Lebanon.

Distribution: Common in the arid regions of Himalayas from 2300-3700 m. alt. and westwards through S.W. Asia to Greece.