A succulent leafless spiny bush, 2-3 ft. (or more?) high; branches constricted into segments 1-3 in. long, and 1-1 1/4 in. in diam., 3-4-angled, glabrous, light green on the young parts, becoming light greyish-green; angles acute, with flat faces between them on the 3-angled branches, and compressed, with deeply channelled faces between them on young 4-angled branches, ultimately growing into flat faces, more or less sinuate-toothed, sometimes wavy, with continuous or interrupted horny grey margins; spines in pairs 1/4-1/2 in. apart, diverging, 2-4 lin. long, at first brown, becoming grey, with dark brown or blackish tips; leaves very rudimentary, scale-like, 1/4-1/2 lin. long and 1/2 lin. broad, soon deciduous; flowering-eyes seated nearly midway between the spine-pairs.
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