Palo de cachimbo

Palo de cachimbo is an
evergreen shrub occasionally reaching 5 m in
height but usually 2 to 3 m in height and 3 to 6 cm
in basal diameter. The shrub usually has several
stems formed by suckers from the lateral roots a
few cm out from the central stem and by branches
low on the principal stems. The wood has a
moderately low density, is moderately strong, and
has faint annual rings. Palo de cachimbo plants are
supported by relatively shallow lateral root
systems, at least in soils that have poorly aerated
subsoil. The roots are tan colored and flexible. The
branches and twigs are green, slender, and usually
paired. Shiny, dark-green leaves are ovate to
lanceolate, entire and pointed at both ends, 7 to 20
cm long and 3 to 8 cm broad, with a 1- to 3-cm
petiole. Small yellow to greenish-white flowers are
tightly clustered in open terminal panicles. The 4-
mm ellipsoidal berries are tightly clustered. They
are dark purple or dark blue at maturity and
usually contain two hemispherical seeds having
the inside face concave and the outside face with
five ridges.