A shrub or much branched tree. It grows up to 10 m tall. The bark is rough and brown. The young branches have reddish-yellow hairs. The leaves are simple and often in rings of three. They vary in shape and size. They can be 4-15 cm long and are often oblong. They often have a small thorn like point. The lower leaf surface in densely hairy. The leaves are dark green on top and paler underneath. The edges of the leaves do not have teeth but are often thickened and wavy. Under the leaf the midrib and veins are raised. The twigs and leaf stalks are often hairy. The flowers are white or yellow. They occur in many flowered sprays at the ends of branches and in leaf axils. These groups are 5-17 cm long. Trees are separately male or female. The fruit are small and oval or oblique. The fruit are red to shiny black and 6-8 mm long by 8-12 mm wide. They are black and shiny and become wrinkled with age. They are edible.
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and warm places. It grows in open bushland or savannah often amongst rocks. It is often on termite mounds. In Zimbabwe it grows between 990-1,750 m above sea level. It grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. It is often on rocky hill slopes. It can grow in arid places.
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