Succulent perennial, with a thick fleshy root, branching from the base and weakly erect to 1 m., or grazed to ± 25 cm. high and then usually more densely branched; branches 4-angled, to 1.5 cm. thick, glaucous with darker stripes along the angles, becoming purplish; angles with prominent teeth to ± 2(–3.5) cm. apart.. Spinescence grey, rather weak; spine-shields elongated up to 2 cm. long, decurrent to 1.5 cm.; spines single to 2 cm. long terminating in forked tips to 5 mm. long, weakly divergent; prickles to 2.5 mm. long.. Leaves deltoid, ± 1.5 × 1.5 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, with vivid carmine subsessile cyathia; bracts deltoid, ± 2 × 2 mm.. Cyathia ± 3 × 5.5 mm., with funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely elliptic, ± 1.25 × 1.75 mm., contiguous; lobes transversely elliptic, ± 1.5 × 2.5 mm.. Male flowers: bracteoles spathulate, deeply dentate; stamens 3.5 mm. long.. Female flower: ovary subsessile; styles 2.5 mm. long, joined at the base, apices rugose.. Entire capsule not seen, probably ± 4 mm. in diameter.. Seeds globose, 1.75 mm. in diameter, dark brownish red, indistinctly alveolate.
Sandy, stony soils amongst grass in dry open bushland; brown soil in open Pennisetum masaicum grassland; bush of Commiphora spp., Euphorbia spinescens, Acacia mellifera; dry sandy soil; at elevations from 1,200-1,750 metres.
Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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