Succulent perennial with a fleshy root, ± sparsely branched, shrubby to ± 1.5 m. or occasionally subscandent to 2 m. high; stems and branches 4(–5)-angled, to 1.5 cm. thick, variously vareigated, mottled, or striped darker green along the angles; angles with shallow teeth to 3 cm. apart.. Spinescence greyish brown; spine-shields longitudinal and contiguous or decurrent to just above the flowering eye below; spines single, to 2 cm. long terminating in forked tips to 5 mm. long; prickles to 5 mm. long.. Leaves deltoid, ± 3 × 2 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, subsessile; bracts deltoid, ± 1.5 × 1.5 mm.. Cyathia ± 3 × 5 mm., with funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely rectangular, ± 1 × 2.5 mm., contiguous, yellow to reddish; lobes transversely elliptic, ± 1 × 1.5 mm.. Male flowers: bracteoles spathulate, laciniate, deeply dentate; stamens 4.25 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 2 mm. long, joined at the base, apices thickened, rugose.. Capsule subsessile, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 3.5 × 5 mm., speckled purplish.. Seeds ovoid, 2 × 1.5 mm., grey, closely tuberculate.. Fig. 98/1–3.
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