The plants are small tree with large dark green leathery leaves. Usually leaves are crowded at the branches tips. The flowers are produced at end of branches in a flat topped inflorescence. Flowers pale yellow in color, foetid smelling, small, 5 mm across. Fruits are ellipsoid, black to purplish when ripe.

The plant is over slaughtered in Northern Western Ghats for its valuate active ingredients. The stem powder was smuggled to Japan, Germany, South Korea and Spain. This drug was then marketed globally, yielding profits exceeding tenfold.