Densely branching succulent perennial; branches decumbent forming tangled mats to 1 m. in diameter and 30 cm. high, 4-angled, ± 1 cm. thick, bright green; angles with shallow rounded teeth to 1 cm. apart.. Spinescence dark red becoming blackish brown; spine-shields oblong-triangular, to ± 2 × 2 mm. above the spines, decurrent to just above the flowering eye below; spines slender, to 6 mm. long; prickles to 1 mm. long.. Leaves acutely deltoid, ± 1 mm. long.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, with peduncle ± 1.5 mm. long and cyme-branches to 2.5 mm. long; bracts deltoid, ± 1.75 × 1.5 mm.. Cyathia ± 3 × 3.5 mm., with cup-shaped involucres; glands transversely elliptic, ± 0.75 × 1.25 mm., quite separate, yellow becoming reddish; lobes rounded, ± 0.75 mm. in diameter.. Male flowers few: bracteoles ligulate, deeply dentate; stamens well-exserted, 5 mm. long.. Female flower: styles slender, 4.5 mm. long, joined for 0.75 mm. apices thickened.. Capsule subsessile, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 2.75 × 3 mm., red.. Seeds subglobose, 1.5 mm. in diameter, reddish brown, minutely and closely tuberculate.
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