Erect or subscandent succulent shrub to 3.5 m. high; branches 4–5-angled, 1–2 cm. thick, slightly constricted at irregular intervals of 20–60 cm., uniformly green or indistinctly variegated; angles straight to shallowly toothed, with teeth 0.5–3 cm. apart.. Spine-shields to 5 × 3 mm. above the spines, decurrent to shortly above the flowering eye below or forming a continuous horny margin 1–3 mm. wide on older branches; spines to 1 cm. long at the base of the plant, becoming progressively shorter above, to rudimentary or obsolete on upper branches (above ± 1.5 m. high); prickles rudimentary to 1 mm. long.. Leaves deltoid, ± 1.5 × 1.5 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, with stout peduncles and cyme-branches 1–3 mm. long; bracts ± subquadrate, to 1.2 × 1.5 mm.. Cyathia ± 2.5 × 5 mm., with cup-shaped involucres, all parts yellow, red-tinged or entirely red; glands transversely oblong, ± 1.3 × 2.8 mm., contiguous; lobes transversely elliptic, ± 1 × 1.5 mm.. Male flowers: bracteoles fan-shaped, deeply laciniate, plumose; stamens 4 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 1.8 mm. long, joined at the base, apices much thickened, rugose, often ± bifid.. Capsule exserted on a reflexed pedicel to 6 mm. long, deeply 3-lobed, ± 3.5 × 6 mm., flushed red or dark red.. Seeds subglobose, ± 2 mm. in diameter, buff with darker longitudinal streaks, shallowly tuberculate.
Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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