A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 2 m high. Each branch is smooth but ends with a sharp spine. The leaves are narrow and 3-10 cm long by 2-10 mm wide. They taper to the tip and are wedge shaped at the base. There are some teeth towards the tip. The flowers are greenish-yellow. They occur in groups of 10-20. The fruit are round and 5-6 mm across. They are black.
It is a temperate plant. It grows in northwestern China. It is on stony slopes and dry sand between 1,000-2,100 m above sea level.