The tree about 4in thick and twelve or 14ft in height; the bark is smooth, of a greenish russet color, and the wood seemingly tough and hard. The leaves were like those of box, but smaller; they grow in clusters round the stalks, by intervals of an 1in space, more or less; from every cluster shoots forth two sharp pliant spines. The flowers are tubulous, of a yellow color about 6in long, hanging pendulous. They are monopetalous, being very small at the calix, and wide at the mouth, in form of a roman trumpet, except that their verge is divided into four deep segments, which are usually reflected back.
The fruit is of an oval form, and of the size of a pullet's egg; the flesh or pulp of it is like that of a ripe apple, covered with a smooth yellow skin. The middle of the fruit is hollow, containing many small triangular seeds. The fruit has an agreeable tartness and good flavor, and seems as if it was capable of being improved by cultivation, but is little known.