Plant bushy; stem up to 60 cm long, dichotomously branched, jointed. Leaves sessile, 2-4 cm long, 0.6 to 1.3 cm braod, elliptic to oblanceolate, entire, obtuse, 3-nerved. Flowers sessile in 2-4 flowered, pedunculate fascicles; peduncle 3-5 mm long; bracts 2, 1.5-2 mm long, acute connate, forming a boat-shaped bracteal cup. Perianth lobes 3-4, thick, triangular, 1 mm long, caducous. Stamens 4; anther dehiscence porose. Ovary sessile, obovoid, 2 mm long; stigma conical, 0.5 mm long. Berry subglobose, 6 mm long, 1-seeded, red.

Fl. Per.: April-May.

Type: “Palaestina, Ind. Orient”.

Distribution: S.W. Spain, S. Portugal, N. Africa, Australia and Asia.

In Pakistan the species grows in the Kurram Valley and Swat, mostly on olive trees. It is also valuable as decoration during the Christmas season.