With small to medium-sized spines, its one of the main components of the Gran Chaco prairies and certain areas of the Argentinian pampa.

The tala is a medium to large sized tree, sometimes reaching 12m high.

The leaves are alternate, petiolate and simple, their base rounded and the margin serrated in the apical region.

Tala fruit is a small drupe, 1 cm wide that hangs in short clusters.

Though edible by humans there is no market or habit of consumption, and these fruits are mostly eaten by birds and several insect species.