Sturdy erect branched shrub, 2-3 m, greyish white, peeling bark on older stem. Leaves alternate, ovate-deltoid, or oblong ovate, up to 6 x 4 cm, silver grey, entire-repand lobed, subhastate, obtuse, mucronulate or emarginate, petiolate, petiole 0.3-1.0 cm. Inflorescence terminal, paniculate, leafless. Glomerules many-flowered forming congested lateral and terminal spikes. Male flowers: perianth small, very few in number than female flowers. Fruits many, condensed, often horizontally spreading; bracts thick-textured, fused at base, reniform, broad triangular to orbicular, 3.5-4 x 5-6 mm, entire or serrate dentate, without tubercles. Seeds 1.5 mm, brown-dark brown.

Type: In Hispaniae, Lusitaniae, Virgineae sepibus maritimis (Herb. LINN 1221.1- microfiche!).

Distribution: Mediterannean area to Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Pakistan, Madagascar?.

The record is based on a specimen with only male fls. and no fruits.