This small shrub, 1-3 m tall, has spines.
Leaves are simple, slightly lobed and unequal at the base.
Fruit is a berry with persistent calyx and is yellow when ripe. Seeds are flat, non-hairy and numerous. Origin It is found widely in the tropics and common throughout the Malay Peninsula. Previously, it was reported to be common in low-lying, muddy grounds in Singapore. The fruits are eaten in curries by Malays but the green, unripe fruit is preferred for this purpose.