Dioecious, erect shrub up to 90 cm tall with (1–)2 spines 0.5–5 cm long in each leaf axil, sometimes scandent with stems up to 8 m long; branchlets terete or quadrangular, glabrous to densely hairy. Leaves decussately opposite, simple and entire; stipules absent or rudimentary; petiole short; blade elliptical-oblong to ovate-oblong or orbicular, 1.5–5.5 cm × 0.5–4.5 cm, base rounded or somewhat narrowed, apex mucronate, pinnately veined with one pair of lateral veins from near the base. Inflorescence an axillary, sometimes terminal spike or cyme up to 3 cm long or flowers solitary; bracts ovate, often with long and spinous mucro. Flowers unisexual, regular, 4-merous, usually sessile; calyx campanulate, 2–4 mm long, with triangular lobes; petals linear-oblong to oblong, greenish to yellowish, the upper part reflexed over the calyx, 2–5 mm long; male flowers with stamens inserted at the base of the rudimentary ovary, exserted; female flowers with staminodes and superior ovary, up to 4.5 mm long with a broad sessile stigma. Fruit a globose berry, 0.5–1 cm in diameter, 1–2-seeded, green turning white, with persistent stigma. Seeds disk-like, brown to black.

Diuretic, disinfectant, odontalgic and stimulant tonic (plant)

PROTAbase: Azima tetracantha

The pounded roots are applied directly to snakebites and an infusion is taken orally as a treatment for them; a mixture of roots and leaves is also used similarly. A root decoction to treat stomach disorders. An infusion of the leaves is used to treat venereal diseases. The juice of the berries is applied directly into the ear to treat earache. The sap of the plant is applied directly to treat toothache and bleeding gums after tooth extraction. The root, root bark and leaves are added to food as a remedy for rheumatism. The plant is used to treat dropsy, dyspepsia and chronic diarrhoea. The juice of the leaves are applied as eardrops against earache and crushed leaves are placed on painful teeth.