Herbs dioecious. Roots tuberous, subcylindric, 0.7--1.5 cm thick, fleshy. Stems climbing, 20--100 cm; branches striate-ridged, ridges usually cartilaginous denticulate. Cladodes in fascicles of 4--10, 4--12 × ca. 0.5 mm, subterete, slightly flattened, irregularly grooved, usually cartilaginous denticulate. Leaf spur not or only slightly spinescent; spine 1--2 mm. Inflorescences developing after cladodes. Flowers of both sexes in clusters of 2--4; pedicel 3--6 mm. Male flowers: perianth pale purplish brown, campanulate, ca. 7 mm; filaments adnate to perianth segments for ca. 1/2 their length. Female flowers: perianth ca. 3 mm. Berry red, 6--7 mm in diam., 4-or 5-seeded. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Aug. 2 n = 40*.
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