Spreading succulent perennial, densely branching from the base; branches shortly decumbent or erect to 30 cm. high, cylindrical to 2 cm. thick, greyish green, with 8–10 longitudinal ribs (angles), without teeth.. Spinescence red when young, becoming black with spine-pairs to 8 mm. apart; spine-shields oblong, ± 2.5 mm. wide, to 2.5 mm. long above the spines and almost touching the flowering eye below; spines very slender, to 1 cm. long; prickles absent or rudimentary.. Leaves acutely deltoid, ± 1 × 0.7 mm., often persistent and hardening to form a minute prickle.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, subsessile; bracts subquadrate, ± 1.5 × 1.5 mm.. Cyathia ± 2 × 3.5 mm., with funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely elliptic, ± 1 × 1.5 mm., just touching, yellow; lobes subcircular, 1.5 mm. in diameter.. Male flowers: bracteoles fan-shaped, laciniate; stamens well exserted, 3.75 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 2.5 mm. long, joined for 0.5 mm., apices thickened and minutely bifid.. Capsule exserted laterally on a reflexed pedicel to 3 mm. long, deeply 3-lobed ± 2.5 × 4 mm., reddish.. Mature seeds not seen.
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