Shortly rhizomatous succulent perennial erect to 15 cm. high; rhizomes tuberous; stems very sparsely branched, 4-angled, ± 6 mm. thick, pale greyish green obscurely blotched with darker green; angles straight, without teeth.. Spinescence brown; spine-shields exceedingly slender, to 11 mm. long, not extended above the spines, decurrent to just above the flowering eye below; spines very fine, to 2 mm. long; prickles immediately above the spines, rudimentary.. Leaves ovate, ± 1.5 × 0.75 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked with peduncle to 3.5 mm. long and cyme-branches to 5 mm. long; bracts ovate, ± 1.25 × 1 mm.. Cyathia ± 4 × 3.75 mm., with narrowly funnel-shaped involucres; glands rounded, ± 1.25 × 1.5 mm., quite separate, yellow; lobes rounded, ± 0.75 × 0.75 mm.. Male flowers very few: bracteoles laciniate; stamens far exserted, 6 mm. long, red.. Female flower: styles slender, 5 mm. long, joined at the base, the apices scarcely thickened.. Capsule subsessile, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 3 × 4 mm., reddish.. Seeds subglobose, 2 × 1.8 mm., brown, minutely and shallowly tuberculate.
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