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Spine shields forming a ± continuous horny margin along the angles, 2–3 mm wide, sometimes interrupted at the flowering eyes; spines to 6 mm long, spreading, much reduced at the constrictions; prickles minute or absent.
Cyathia with involucres 2.5–3 × 6–7 mm, campanulate; glands c. 3 mm wide, transversely oblong, touching, greenish-yellow; lobes c. 2 mm wide, fimbriate.
Leaves to 20 × 6–7 mm on young growth, oblong-lanceolate, reduced to 1.5–2 mm long on older growth, triangular, scale-like, caducous.
Succulent spiny shrubs or tree-like shrubs to 1.5(3) m high, with a short stout ± cylindric trunk, to c. 10 cm in diameter.
Male flowers: bracteoles c. 2.5 mm long, laciniate; stamens far exserted, pedicels c. 4 mm long, filaments c. 4 mm long.
Cymes solitary, 1–2-forked; peduncle and cyme branches c. 2 mm long; bracts 1.5 × 2 mm.
Capsule obtusely lobed, c. 4 × 7 mm, exserted on a recurved pedicel 7–8 mm long.
Female flower: styles 2–4 mm long, free to below the middle, with bifid tips.
Seed c. 2 mm in diameter, subglobose, smooth.
