Shrubs, evergreen, 1-2 m tall. Branches brownish gray, angulate, black verruculose, glabrous; shoots brownish yellow; spines 3-fid, 2.5-5 cm, stout, adaxially sulcate. Petiole 2-4 mm; leaf blade abaxially yellow-green, adaxially dark castaneous, oblong-elliptic, 3-12 × 1.5-3 cm, leathery, both surfaces not pruinose, abaxially with obviously raised midvein, lateral veins slightly raised, adaxially with obviously impressed midvein, lateral veins 12-15 pairs, both surfaces with prominent reticulate veins, base cuneate, margin sometimes slightly revolute, 20-30-spinose-serrate on each side, apex obtuse, aristate. Flowers 6-15(-20)-fascicled, deep yellow. Pedicels 12-15(-20) mm. Sepals in 2 whorls; outer sepals ovate, ca. 4 × 3.5 mm, apex rounded, obtuse; inner sepals obovate or obovate-orbicular, ca. 5.5 × 5 mm. Petals oblong-obovate, ca. 4.5 × 3 mm, base not clawed, with separate glands, apex slightly emarginate. Stamens ca. 3 mm; anther connective prolonged, slightly retuse. Ovules solitary. Berry purplish black, ellipsoid, 6-7 × ca. 4 mm, slightly pruinose, style not persistent. Fl. May, fr. Nov.
Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs stratification.