Shrub or small tree with yellow, aromatic wood. Leaves are simple with wide elliptic lamina. The leaf margin is entire. The veins on the underside may be hairy. The flowers composed erected panicles. Flowering in May and June. The fruits are small drupes, dark brown, in fuzzy infructenscence. Shoots: Shoots are round, thin, brown, smells like carrots. Secretes watery milk when broken. Natural range: Southern Europe, Asia; in our area introduced.