Tree to 10(–15) m. high, with a simple or sometimes branching trunk, to 50 cm. in diameter, marked with ± loosely spiralled rows of persistent spines and deep pits resulting from the scars of fallen branches; bark flaking, grey-brown; branching dense to form a rounded slightly flattened crown; primary branches 2–4 m. long, spreading outwards and upwards, with whorls of secondary branches which occasionally branch again on larger trees, the lower ones deciduous; terminal branchlets fleshy, (3–)5(–6)-angled, 2–4(–7) cm. thick, ± constricted at intervals of 5–15 cm.; angles straight to sinuately toothed, with teeth 5–15 mm. apart.. Spine-shields oblong-triangular, to 1.5 × 2 mm. above the spines, narrowly decurrent to the flowering eye below and soon contiguous.. Spines 2–8(–10) mm. long; prickles vestigial or absent.. Leaves deltoid, ± 2 × 2 mm.. Cymes clustered at the branch apices, solitary or more usually 3 in a horizontal row, 1-forked, with thickened peduncles 2–3 mm. long arranged in a vertical plane; bracts deltoid, ± 1.8 × 2.5 mm.. Cyathia ± 2.2 × 4 mm., with cup-shaped involucres; glands transversely oblong, ± 1 × 2 mm., contiguous, golden yellow; lobes circular, 1 mm. in diameter.. Male flowers: bracteoles fan-shaped, deeply toothed, plumose; stamens 4.2 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 1.2 mm. long, joined to halfway, apices much thickened, bifid.. Capsule exserted on a pedicel to 7 mm. long, deeply 3-lobed, with truncate base, ± 4.5 × 7 mm.. Seeds subglobose, 2.4 × 2.2 mm., grey-mottled, smooth.. Fig. 93/4, 5, p. 496.
Rocky hillsides, and is usually the dominant tree in mixed deciduous woodland, at elevations from 600-1,250 metres.
Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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