Semideciduous shrub 0.3–2.4 m high, with glabrous or sparsely pubescent young stems; spines (15–) 25–70 mm long. Leaves caducous, concolorous or distinctly discolorous; lamina ovate, oblong to obovate, 3–6.5 (–12) mm long, 1–2.6 (–5.5) mm wide, base narrowly cuneate to cuneate, margin entire or serrulate, apex emarginate, apiculate or tridentate, venation obscure; petiole 0.5–2 mm long; stipules 0.8–2 mm long. Inflorescence of up to 50 flowers; bracts persistent, 0.5–0.7 mm long. Pedicels 2–5 (–7.5) mm long. Hypanthium tube 0.5–0.8 mm long, 1.8–2.7 mm diam. Sepals 1.1–1.6 mm long. Petals 0.7–1.2 mm long. Stamens 0.6–1.1 mm long. Disc lining the base of the hypanthium tube around the ovary, slightly sinuate. Style 0.5–1 mm long, entire (rarely minutely lobed). Fruit 2.6–4 mm long. Seed 2.2–3 mm long.
Grows in heathland, shrubland or woodland, often in shallow rocky soils derived from granite, limestone or basalt, at 450–1450 m alt.
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