Shrubs, deciduous, ca. 2 m tall. Branches pale yellow, sulcate, glabrous; young shoots pale red, angulate, puberulous, glabrous when mature; spines 3-fid, 1-3 cm, adaxially sulcate. Petiole 4-10 mm; leaf blade abaxially pale green, adaxially dark green, obovate or obovate-oblong, 2-8 × 0.8-3.5 cm, papery, abaxially densely puberulous and mixed tomentulose, midvein and lateral veins obviously raised, adaxially sparsely puberulous, midvein flat, lateral veins slightly raised, both surfaces with conspicuous reticulate veins, margin very sinuate, 10-20-spinose-serrate on each side, apex obtuse or acute. Inflorescence a spikelike raceme, nutant, 4-6 cm, 20-35-flowered; rachis puberulous. Pedicels 1-2 cm, puberulous; bracts 2-3 mm, puberulous; bractlets red, ovate, ca. 1 mm, apex acute. Sepals in 2 whorls; outer sepals ovate, ca. 2 × 1 mm; inner sepals obovate-elliptic, ca. 3.5 × 1.5 mm. Petals elliptic, ca. 3 × 1.3 mm, base cuneate, with separate elliptic glands, apex emarginate. Stamens ca. 2 mm; anther connective not prolonged, truncate. Ovules 2. Berry red, ellipsoid, ca. 6 × 3.5 mm, not pruinose, style not persistent; seeds brown. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Aug-Oct.