Ruscus hyrcanus

The species grows to approximately 30-50 centimeters tall and is very prickly. Stems always are green; ordinary woody, rigid, branched at the end in a whorl with spreading-procumbent branches. Cladodes have a length of 10–25 millimeters; they are flattened, ovate, lanceolate, leathery, rigid, and tapering to a thorn at their extremity; their both sides are shiny green. R. hyrcanus leaves are very reduced, small and bractiform.[3]

The flower is purplish or whitish, dioecious, marcescent with six spreading divisions, and solitary or geminate, arising in the axil of a lanceolate, firm bract on the median rib of the upper face of cladodes. Male flower has three stamens and sweating in a tube; female flower has an ovary with three biovulated lobes. The fruit is a red globular berry, about one centimeter in diameter.[3]

It is native to Iran, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Crimea.[4]

The species is of conservation concern in Azerbaijan, where it is listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan.[5] It is protected on lands such as Hirkan National Park.[3]