Tree to 15(–20) m. high, trunk simple or with a few ascending branches, to 30 cm. in diameter; bark grey and marked with 6–8 vertical lines of pits, being the scars of fallen branches; branches terminating in small fairly dense clusters of secondary branches 1–3 m. long, each with further whorls of branchlets; terminal branchlets fleshy, 3–4-angled, 1.5–3.5 cm. wide, deeply winged, slightly constricted at irregular intervals of 10–30 cm.; angles straight to sinuately toothed, with teeth 1–1.5 cm. apart.. Spine-shields shortly triangular, 1 × 2.5 mm. above the spines, decurrent for 1–3 mm.; spines 2–7 mm. long; prickles minute, at first triangular, flexible, attached to the leaf-bases, later hardening and usually vestigial.. Leaves deltoid, ± 2 × 1.3 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, subsessile; bracts deltoid, ± 1.5 × 1.5 mm.. Cyathia ± 2 × 5 mm., with cup-shaped involucres, all parts ivory-white; glands transversely elliptic, ± 1.5 × 2.2 mm., the inner margin slightly raised, just touching; lobes subcircular, 1 mm. in diameter.. Male flowers: bracteoles spathulate, plumose; stamens 3.5 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 1.5 mm. long, joined for 0.5 mm., apices thickened, rugose, ± bifid.. Capsule exserted on a slightly curved pedicel to 5 mm. long, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 5 × 7 mm.. Seeds ovoid, 3.5 × 2.8 mm., grey, smooth.
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