Densely branched succulent perennial to 60 cm. high, with fibrous roots and a main stem to 50 cm. high and 6 cm. thick; branches to 40 cm. long, erect at first then drooping and trailing, usually unbranched, cylindrical, to 12 mm. thick, longitudinally striped with dark and light green; teeth very shallow, to 1.5 cm. apart in 3–5 ± spirally arranged series.. Spinescence greyish brown; spine-shields longitudinal, to 11 × 3 mm., decurrent to 10 mm.; spines single, to 2.5 cm. long terminating in forked tips to 1 mm. long with one of these slightly shorter and weaker than the other; prickles to 4 mm. long.. Leaves deltoid, ± 2 × 1.5 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, subsessile; bracts oblong, ± 1.5 × 1 mm.. Cyathia ± 2 × 5.5 mm., with broadly funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely rectangular, ± 1.5 × 3 mm., contiguous, dark red; lobes subcircular, ± 1.5 mm. in diameter, deeply toothed.. Male flowers: bracteoles fan-shaped, laciniate, deeply dentate; stamens 4 mm. long.. Female flower: styles slender, 2 mm. long, free to the base, apices thickened, rugulose.. Capsule subsessile, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 3.5 × 5 mm., purplish.. Mature seeds not seen.
Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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