Densely tufted succulent perennial with a thick fleshy root; stems densely branching from the base, sparsely so above, erect to 15 cm. or decumbent and occasionally stoloniferous, to 50(–100) cm. long, 5–8 mm. thick, cylindrical, usually greyish green, often with darker longitudinal stripes; branches with shallow teeth 1–2 cm. apart in 4 longitudinal series.. Spinescence pale grey; spine-shields triangular, 1–2 × 1–1.5 mm. above the spines, decurrent for l–4(–6) mm.; spines 5–15 mm. long; prickles less than 1 mm. long.. Leaves ovate, 1.5 × 1 mm.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, with peduncles and cyme-branches ± 2.5 mm. long; bracts subquadrangular, ± 1 mm. long.. Cyathia ± 2.5 × 5 mm., with broadly funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely elliptic, ± 1 × 2.5 mm., just touching, bright yellow; lobes transversely elliptic, ± 1 × 1.5 mm.. Male flowers: bracteoles fan-shaped, deeply dentate; stamens 3.25 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 2 mm. long, apices thickened, rugulose.. Capsule subsessile, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 3.25 × 4 mm., purplish.. Seeds ovoid, 1.75 × 1.5 mm., brown, tuberculate.
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