Erect shrub to c. 4 m high, grey-green to light green, sometimes bronzy; branchlets slender but c. rigid, angular, striate, pubescent at first, finally glabrous. Leaves alternate, linear-subulate, 1–3 mm long, caducous. Inflorescences usually 2–6-flowered, short, dense, sessile or shortly pedunculate clusters 1–3.5 mm long in upper leaf axils, usually only 1 flower per spike fertile; rachis pubescent. Tepals 4 or 5, triangular-ovate, to c. 1 mm long, more or less acute, yellow-green, caducous. Fruiting receptacle broad-obovoid, 2–4 mm long, red, white or mauve, succulent; drupe ovoid or globular, 2.5–4.5 mm long, shiny, green to almost black. Flowers all months.