Succulent perennial with a fleshy root and spreading tangled branches to 40 cm. high; branches 4-angled, to ± 1 cm. thick, bright glossy green with a darker stripe along the angles; angles with prominent teeth ± 1.5 cm. apart.. Spinescence dark reddish brown, yellowish when young; spine-shields elongated, contiguous; spines to 2 cm. long and often joined at the base for up to 5 mm.; prickles to 3 mm. long.. Leaves deltoid ± 1.5 mm. long.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, with peduncles ± 1.5 mm. long; bracts oblong, ± 1.25 × 1 mm.. Cyathia ± 2.5 × 3.5 mm., with broadly funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely rectangular, ± 1 × 2 mm., contiguous, brick-red; lobes subcircular, 1 mm. in diameter.. Male flowers: bracteoles ligulate, dentate; stamens 3 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 1.75 mm. long, joined at the base, apices thickened.. Capsule just exserted on a pedicel 2 mm. long, obtusely 3-lobed, 2 × 3.5 mm., speckled red along the sutures.. Seeds ovoid, 1.5 × 1.25 mm., grey, areolate.
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