Bombay ebony is a small deciduous tree in the ebony family up to 15 metres (49 ft) tall, distributed all along the Western Ghats of India, Sri Lanka, Indo-China through to Australia.

Bombay ebony(Bistendu) is a small deciduous tree with spiny trunk and spiny older branches. Leaves are elliptic lanceshaped, somewhat heart-shaped at the base and sharp or blunt at the tip. They are smooth above and velvety on the underside. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Male flowers are borne in 3-flowered clusters, and the female ones singly. Flowers are creamy white or greenish-white, tubular, with 4 petals which are curved back. Sepals are ovate, velvety. Stamens of male flowers are longer than the flower tube. Fruit is spherical, cherry sized, yellow when ripe. Flowering: March-April.

The fruits are poisonous. This could very well refer to the immature fruit. The crushed leaves and fruits are used for stupefying fish.