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Leaves submature at time of flowering; blades 5.2–8 × 2.2–4.8 cm, obovate, the apex rounded and often emarginate, obtuse or rarely subacuminate, mostly very attenuate to the base, glabrous, or sparsely pubescent above, glabrous to pubescent with densely pubescent nerves beneath; lateral nerves in (3)4–6 main pairs; tertiary nerves finely reticulate, clearly apparent even in pubescent forms; domatia present as conspicuous hairy tufts; petiole 1–2(2.8) cm long, only gradually distinct from leaf base, glabrous or pubescent; stipules on young stems c. 3 mm long, triangular.
A several-stemmed, much-branched spiny shrub or small tree 2–5 m tall; young stems moderately slender, lenticellate, ± glabrous to pubescent, older branches sometimes robust; bark at first red-brown, later mid-grey, ± flaky; spines virtually absent (from some specimens if not plants) or borne above cushion shoots or more often brachyblasts, single and alternate or opposite and decussate, frequently developing into fertile branches; brachyblasts usually ± equal to spines or exceeding them, developing into much-branched fertile branches.
Inflorescence stalks glabrous to densely pubescent, with bracts inconspicuous and rudimentary bractlets present on pedicels: male/hermaphrodite inflorescences 3–7-flowered, peduncle 1–3 mm long, inflorescence branches present, pedicels 4–9 mm long and slender; female/hermaphrodite inflorescences 1–2(3)-flowered, peduncles 1–4 mm long, pedicels 4–11(20) mm long, slender or not.
Corolla white turning yellow, densely silky outside, the hairs on the tube much longer than those on the lobes; tube very slightly longer than calyx limb-tube; lobes 5–9(12) mm long, broadly obovate, or ± round, finely pubescent at least near the margins inside.
Fruits yellow-green, 2.2–2.8(3.4) × 1.6–2 cm, broadly ellipsoid, wrinkled, slightly ribbed, glabrous or glabrescent, glossy; calyx limb persistent with lobes 4–8(12) mm long; stalk lengthening to 1–2.3 cm.
Anthers c. 3 mm long; style exserted from corolla throat by 1–2.5 mm; pollen presenter c. 3 mm long.
Flowers scented, male, female and/or hermaphrodite, subterminal on brachyblasts.
Seeds c. 6 × 4 × 3 mm.
