Branched shrub up to 1 m tall. Shoots rigid, greyish-green, stellate-tomentose. Leaves 3-8 x 1.4-3.5 cm, elliptic-ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse or acute, cuneate, leathery, nerves faint. Petiole 5-10 mm long. Bisexual flowers: calyx cupular-campanulate, stellate-tomentose; lobes 1.5-2.5 mm long, acute. Corolla exceeding calyx, campanulate, stellate-tomentose outside, yellowish Within. Stamens included. Stigma subexserted. Male flowers: stamens ± subexserted. Anthers c. 3.5 mm long; filaments 2.0 mm long. Female flowers: stamens included. Anthers smaller than in male flowers. Style glabrous. Berry globose, 10-12 mm broad, red, included in fruiting calyx. Seeds c. 2.5 mm broad. reniform, brown, minutely rugose-reticulate to ± smooth.

Fl. Per.: Jan.-April.

Syntypes: Pakistan/Afghanistan, Stocks 413, and Griffith 657 (K).

Distribution: Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

Fairly common in dry hot and stony places up to 1700 m. The fruit is emetic and diuretic and also has coagulating properties. Used in parts of India for making cheese.