a cactus plant in the foreground with mountains in the background

Indian Squirrel Tail is a branched shrub, growing to 1-3 m tall. Light colored stems are stout. There are many pale branches which are hairy when young. Oppositely arranged light green leaves are crowded at branch ends. The leaves are oblong, lancelike, finely serrated, 10-15 cm long, darkish green above, whitish hairy below. Numerous tiny white flowers occur in panicles of upright spikes, 5-10 cm long. The flower spikes look hairy, and resemble squirrel's tail. Indian Squirrel Tail is found in the Western Ghats, and many other parts of India at altitudes of 250-1700 m.