Very sparsely branched erect to subscandent succulent perennial to 3.5 m. high, or sometimes with the stem apex damaged producing a more densely branched habit to ± 1 m. high; stem and branches 4-angled, stem to 5 cm. thick near the base, branches 1–2 cm. thick, pale greyish green mottled with darker bluish green especially along the angles; angles straight to shallowly toothed, with teeth 1–3 cm. apart.. Spinescence greyish buff; spine-shields elongated, ± 3 × 2 mm. above the spines, decurrent to just above the flowering eye below, eventually forming a continuous horny margin; spines 5–8(–10) mm. long; prickles 1–2 mm. long.. Leaves ovate, ± 7 × 2.5 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, subsessile, but cyme-branches to 4 mm. long; bracts broadly deltoid, ± 2.5 × 2 mm.. Cyathia ± 3 × 9 mm., with broadly funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely rectangular, ± 2 × 4.5 mm., contiguous, yellow-green and granular, with a distinct smooth red margin 1 mm. wide; lobes transversely elliptic, ± 1.7 × 3 mm.. Male flowers: bracteoles spathulate, dentate; stamens 4.5 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 3 mm. long, joined for 0.7 mm., apices thickened.. Capsule subsessile, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 5 × 7 mm.. Seeds subglobose, 2.2 mm. in diameter, greyish brown, shallowly tuberculate.. Fig.95/1–3.
Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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