Shrubs, deciduous, ca. 1 m tall. Branches dark gray or purplish red, subterete, sometimes sulcate; shoots often purplish brown, glabrous, not verruculose; spines simple, sometimes 3-fid, pale yellow, 1-2(-5) cm. Petiole 2-3 mm, or leaf subsessile; leaf blade adaxially green, narrowly obovate to oblanceolate, 1-4 × 0.4-0.8 cm, papery, both surfaces glabrous, adaxially with slightly raised midvein, both surfaces with conspicuous lateral and reticulate veins, base attenuate, margin entire or 2-15-spinose-serrate on each side, apex acute. Inflorescence a spikelike raceme, 15-25-flowered, 3-5 cm including peduncle 1-2 cm, glabrous; bracts lanceolate, ca. 2 mm. Pedicels 4-5 mm, glabrous; bractlets reddish, subulate-lanceolate, apex caudate. Sepals in 2 whorls; outer sepals obovate-orbicular or ovate-elliptic, ca. 2.2 × 1.5 mm; inner sepals oblong, 3.2-4 × ca. 2.6 mm. Petals obovate-oblong, 3-3.2 × 1.6-2 mm, base clawed, with separate glands, apex emarginate. Stamens ca. 2.2 mm; anther connective not prolonged, truncate. Ovules 1 or 2. Berry black, oblong, 5-6 × 3-4 mm, slightly pruinose, style not persistent; seeds usually 1. Fl. Jun, fr. Jul-Aug.
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