Shrubs, spinescent. Branchlets opposite or subopposite, gray-brown, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, often terminating in a spine. Leaves alternate; petiole 1.5-2.5 mm, densely white tomentose; leaf blade adaxially light green, elliptic, lanceolate, or ovate-oblong, small, narrow, 1-2 cm × 5-8 mm, stiffly papery, abaxially densely and persistently gray-white tomentose, adaxially glabrous or sparsely white pubescent, lateral veins 4-6 pairs, midvein prominent abaxially, inconspicuous adaxially, base obtuse, margin serrulate, apex obtuse or acute, rarely rounded, often long mucronulate. Flowers yellow-green, sessile, gray-white pubescent, usually in terminal and axillary spicate panicles; rachis 1-2 cm, densely gray-white pubescent. Sepals triangular, without apical rostellum. Petals white, spatulate, shorter than sepals. Drupe black when mature, obovoid-globose, small, 3-lobed; mesocarp fleshy and sweet. Fl. Nov, fr. May of following year.

The fleshy, sweet-tasting fruits are eaten in Afghanistan.

Along rivers; low elevations. NW Yunnan [Afghanistan, NW India, Pakistan; SW Asia (Iran)].