Tree to 15(–25) m. high, with a simple trunk rarely branching, to 60 cm. in diameter and with fissured greyish brown bark marked with 4(–5) vertical rows of persistent spines and pit-scars resulting from fallen branches; branches spreading horizontally, to ± 4 m. long, densely and irregularly rebranching to form a rounded crown; terminal branchlets fleshy, 2–3(–4)-angled, 4–10 cm. wide, deeply and thinly winged, ± constricted at irregular intervals of 5–40 cm. into oblong segments; angles sinuately toothed with teeth 1–2.5 cm. apart.. Spine-shields triangular to 5 × 3 mm., eventually extended to enclose the flowering eye just above; spines 2–6 mm. long; prickles rudimentary, triangular.. Leaves persistent on young growth, obovate, to 6 × 4 mm.. Cymes 3–7, crowded together, 1 (–2)-forked, with peduncles and cyme-branches 3–4 mm. long; bracts deltoid ± 2.5 × 2.5 mm.. Cyathia ± 3 × 6.5 mm., with funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely elliptic, ± 1.5 × 3 mm., almost touching, yellowish green; lobes transversely elliptic, ± 1.5 × 2 mm., deeply fringed.. Male flowers: bracteoles laciniate, plumose; stamens 4.3 mm. long.. Female flower: perianth 1.5 mm. long irregularly divided into 5–9 short lobes; styles 2 mm. long, joined at the base, apices rugose, bifid.. Capsule exserted on a curved pedicel to 1 cm. long, subglobose, ± 7 × 10 mm., fleshy, green flushed with red, hardening to become obtusely 3-lobed.. Seeds subglobose, 4.5 mm. in diameter, smooth.
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