Fibrous-rooted succulent perennial, with shortly rhizomatous stems densely branching at the base, sparsely so above, erect to 80 cm.; stems and branches 4–(5)-angled, to 1 cm. thick, greyish green often with a purplish tinge, darker along the angles; angles with shallow teeth 1–2 cm. apart.. Spinescence grey; spine-shields oblong-triangular, fairly slender, ± 2 mm. long above the spines, decurrent to 8 mm. and about halfway to the flowering eye below; spines slender, to 15 mm. long; prickles to 3.5 mm. long.. Leaves acutely deltoid, ± 1.5 × 1 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, subsessile; bracts deltoid, ± 1.5 × 1.5 mm.. Cyathia ± 2.5 × 4.5 mm., with funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely rectangular, ± 1.25 × 2.5 mm., contiguous, yellowish brown; lobes subcircular, 1 mm. in diameter.. Male flowers: bracteoles fan-shaped, deeply dentate; stamens 3.25 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 2.75 mm. long, joined for 1/3, apices thickened.. Capsule sessile, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 2.5 × 3 mm.. Seeds ovoid, 1.75 × 1.5 mm., pale brown, shallowly tuberculate.
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