Vern. Marwan.

Erect shrub, 1-2 m high, sometimes up to 4 m high, whitish-tomentose, with obtusely quadrangular branches. Leaves palmately 5-7-foliolate, 2 extreme leaflets (especially in 7-foliolate leaves) much shorter and smaller than the others; leaflets usually lanceolate, (2-) 5-10 (-12) cm long, (4-) 10-15 (-20) mm broad, whitish-tomentose underneath, ± acuminate, subsessile to petiolulate, usually entire. Terminal inflorescence 10-20 cm long, subcylindrical, interrupted; cymes forming verticillaster, ± compact, sessile or subsessile, each usually 8-13 mm long. Flowers lilac or deep violet, c. 4 mm across. Calyx 3 mm long, 2 mm broad, campanulate, truncate, triangulate to obscurely toothed, persistent. Corolla 7-10 mm long, exceeding the calyx; lower lobes glabrous to slightly pubescent at the base. Drupe globose, 2-2.5 mm in diameter, exserted half-way above the slightly enlarg¬ed and expanded, persistent calyx, glabrous, 4-celled, with usually 1 seed in each cell.

Fl. Per.: May July.

Type: Habitat in Siciliae et Napolis paludosis.

Distribution: A native of E. Mediterranean region, S.W. & C. Asia; sometimes cultivated in our gardens and shrubberies.