Tuberous-rooted shrubby succulent perennial, erect to 1 m. or subscandent to 1.8 m.; branches 4-angled, 5–10(–15) mm. thick, olive-green, mottled or variegated and darker along the angles; angles with very shallow to prominent teeth 1–2.5(–3) cm. apart.. Spinescence blackish; spine-shields slender, 3–6 mm. long above the spines, decurrent to shortly above or touching the flowering eye below; spines 2–12(–15) mm. long; prickles 2–6 mm. long.. Cymes solitary, 1-forked, subsessile; bracts subquadrate, 1.5 mm. long.. Cyathia 2–3 × 4.5–6 mm., with funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely rectangular, ± 1 × 2.5 mm., contiguous, yellowish brown; lobes transversely elliptic, ± 1 × 1.5 mm.. Male flowers: bracteoles spathulate, dentate; stamens 4 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 1.8 mm. long, joined at the base, apices thickened, rugulose.. Capsule just exserted on a pedicel 2 mm. long, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 3.5 × 5.5 mm.. Seeds subglobose, 2 mm. in diameter, brown, tuberculate.
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