It is a small tree of 3-4m in height, armed with giant spines. Fruits are globose and are encapsulated in a greyish, pimpled purse-like jacket when young but splits into two halves upon maturation of the seed. A mature seed is oval and jet black in color with a highly wrinkled surface, hence often mistaken for a pepper as the English name indicates. The rural people community apply the powder of its seeds on their legs to get rid of leech infestion while crossing a forest in the rainy season. It also possesses formidable disinfectant properties and is used largely as a safety measure as well as a flavoring essence during wild mushroom cooking.
People make tasty curries just by mixing it with a pinch of salt and piece of green chilli.
A plant with profound socio-pschyomedico and religious significance is the sacred basil which is called Tulsi in Nepali and Ocimum sanctum scientifically. It is a small herb about half a meter in height. The leaves are simple and ovate, and the flowers are purplish-pink in color. Seeds are minute black grains. Hindus venerate it as one of the herbal forms of Lord Vishnu.