Tree, or rarely a large shrub, upto 15 (-20) m tall. Trunk 2.5-3 m in circumference with longitudinally deep fissured dark orange-brown bark. Young shoots olive green, pubescent to glabrous with 10-25 nun long axillary spines, rarely spineless. leaves with (1.5-) 2.5 an long petiole; lamina ovate to lanceolate-oblong, 5-12 (-16) cm long, (2-) 3-8 (-10) cm broad, entire, 5-costate from the cuneate to ± cordate base, shining above, finely pubescent to eventually glabrescent, apex acute-acuminate or rarely obtuse; stipules subulate, c. 2.5-3.5 mm long, acuminate, brownish-membranous, caducous. Male inflorescence a subglobose, 2.5-3.5 cm long, pseudoracemose clusters on slender, 1-2 cm long peduncles. Male flowers: pedicels 2-5 mm long, filiform; sepals basally connate, oval-oblong, c. 1.5 mm long, lanate hairy outside; staminal filaments longer than sepals with oval, exserted anthers. Female inflorescence a dense, axillary, subsessile to short peduncled globose head, c. 2 cm in diameter. Female flowers: subsessile; sepals united at the base, oblong c. 4 mm long, thick, lanate hairy at the apex; ovary with filiform, c. 20-25 mm long, hairy styles. Fruit large, sub-globose, 10-15 cm in diameter, orange-like but wrinkled and rough, yellowish-green. Seeds c. 1 cm long.

Fl. Per.: May-July.

Type: Described from N. America.

Distribution: A native of N. America, introduced and cultivated in many parts of the world.

In Pakistan, it is reported to be cultivated in gardens at Quetta, Peshawar, Wah and Lehtrar (near Rawalpindi), Abbotabad, Lahore etc. by R.R. Stewart (l.c. 194), but no specimens have been seen by the author.