Erect or scandent shrub to 2 m high; branches terete, white, peeling, glabrous to puberulous, with erect spines 4– 12 mm long below cladodes.. Cladodes in fascicles of 2– 15, arcuate, 1– 6 cm long, triangular, caducous during anthesis.. Inflorescence racemose; raceme 0.5– 2 cm long, often condensed and reduced, giving impression of an umbel; bracts ovate, 1– 1.5× 0.5 mm, white, falling quickly; pedicel 5– 6 mm long, articulated in the middle or below.. Tepals white to cream, ± equal, 3– 4 mm long; stamens shorter than the perianth; anthers black; ovary 2– 3-locular with 6– 8 ovules in each locule; style 0.3– 0.7 mm long with 2– 3-branched stigma.. Berry red, 5– 9 mm in diameter, 1-seeded.
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