Shrubs, deciduous, ca. 2 m tall. Branches pale brown or dark gray, angulate, sparsely black verruculose; shoots pale yellowish brown, angulate, not verruculose; spines simple or 3-fid, 1-3 cm, adaxially sulcate. Petiole to 1.7 cm, sometimes leaf subsessile; leaf blade abaxially pale green or gray, adaxially green, elliptic or obovate, occasionally oblong-elliptic, (0.7-)2-6 × (0.4-)1-2.7 cm, thinly papery, abaxially glabrous, not pruinose, veins obviously raised, adaxially with flat or slightly impressed midvein, lateral and reticulate veins conspicuous, base abruptly contracted to petiole, margin 12-25-spinose-serrate on each side, leaves on shoots usually entire, apex rounded, obtuse. Inflorescence a raceme, 5-8-flowered, 3-4 cm, sometimes compound below; bracts lanceolate, ca. 1.5 mm. Pedicels ca. 1 cm, glabrous. Sepals in 2 whorls; outer sepals suborbicular or ovate-orbicular, ca. 3.5 × 3.1 mm; inner sepals suborbicular, ca. 4.8 × 4.6 mm. Petals elliptic, ca. 5 × 3.5 mm, base clawed, with separate glands, apex emarginate, lobes acute. Stamens ca. 2.5 mm; anther connective not prolonged, truncate. Ovules 3, sessile. Berry red, oblong, 10-12 × 5-6 mm, not pruinose, style ca. 1 mm. Fl. May, fr. Jun-Sep.