It is a small, slender, erect tree, with a nearly spherical, pear-shaped fruit, with a dark green and very wrinkled skin.The species name hýstrix (Greek porcupine) refers to the many thorns of the plant. Its juice tastes sour, slightly bitter and highly aromatic with only little juice inside . The leaves have a very distinctive double form which look as if two glossy, dark green leaves were joined together end to end .