Deciduous shrub (rarely tree) up to 5 m high, with many branches and numerous sprouts. The bark is irregularly ridged, the bark stinks. Wood is hard, yellowed. Leaves are odd-pinnate composed of 5 to 7 leaflets. Leaflets are elliptic with serrate margin. Stinky if rubbed. The flowers are in flat cymes, white-colored, fragrant. Flowering in May and June. The fruit are fleshy, black to black-violet drupes. Shoots: Shoots are strong, square, gray or green, glabrous, with big dark lenticels. Old shoots are round with broad white core. Leaf-scars are cordate, with 5 leaf traces. Natural range: Europe (outside north and north-eastern part), the Caucasus; in our area domestic.