Succulent perennial with stems densely tufted, sparsely branched, subcylindrical, to 30(–75) cm. long and 8 mm. thick, uniformly green; branches with ± shallow teeth to 2 cm. apart in 4 longitudinal series.. Spinescence brownish grey, black when young; spine-shields elongated to 13 mm., divergent above the spines into 2 arms to 2 mm. long with expanded ends, decurrent to 1 cm.; spines very slender, to 12 mm. long, sometimes joined at the base; prickles very fine to 5 mm. long.. Leaves deltoid, ± 0.75 × 0.75 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, with cyme-branches ± 1.25 mm. long, all parts indistincdy papillose; bracts subquadrate, ± 1.25 × 1.25 mm.. Cyathia ± 2.25 × 3.5 mm., with broadly funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely rectangular, ± 0.75 × 1.75 mm., contiguous, yellow; lobes transversely elliptic, ± 1 × 1.5 mm.. Male flowers: bracteoles spathulate, dentate; stamens 4 mm. long.. Female flowers: styles 1.75 mm. long, free to the base, apices thickened.. Capsule sessile, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 2.5 × 3.25 mm., minutely papillose.. Seeds ovoid, with truncate base, 1.75 × 1.5 mm., grey, shallowly and minutely tuberculate.
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