An evergreen shrub up to 5 m tall; young parts covered with a yellow, viscid resin. Leaves sub-sessile, oblanceolate to spathulate, 3-9 cm long, 0.5-2 cm broad, glabrous, entire, sub-acute to apiculate. Panicles terminal, c. 3 cm long; flowers greenish yellow; pedicel 4-8 mm long. Sepals 3-5, connate at the base, ovate, 3 mm long, puberulous; persistent. Stamens 6-8, free, rudimentary in the female flower; anthers subsessile, oblong, 2-5 mm long, sparsely hairy at the tip. Disc annular, cushion-shaped. Ovary triquetrous, 2.2 mm long, 3-locular, sparsely hairy, rudimentary in the male flower; style 3 mm long, minutely papillose; stigma 3-fid. Capsule 12-14 mm long, 15-19 mm broad, 2-4 valved; valves membranous, light brown, green or maroon, winged at the back. Seed sub-globose, c. 4 mm long, black.

Fl. Per: Jan-March.

Type locality: India.

Distribution: Australia, S. Africa, N. America, China, India, Ceylon and W. Pakistan.

A component of the scrub vegetation of low hilly areas. The quick growth and gregarious habit of this shrub makes it an excellent hedge plant. The branches are used as fire-wood and as a support for the flat mud roofs in village houses. The wood can be used for making walking sticks and tool-handles.