Succulent perennial, spreading-erect to 45 cm. high and 1.25 m. in diameter; stems crowded, sparsely branching, to 1.5 cm. thick, 4-angled, dark green blotched with brown; angles with prominent teeth 1–3 cm. apart.. Spinescence very sturdy, grey, dark red when young; spine-shields elongated to 23 mm. long, diverging above the spines into 2 arms to 5 mm. long, decurrent to 20 mm.; spines to 3 cm. long occasionally joined at the base; prickles to 8 mm. long.. Leaves deltoid, 2.7 × 2.7 mm.. Cymes 1–5 in a vertical line, maturing successively, 1-forked, with cyme-branches ± 2 mm. long, all parts densely papillose; bracts deltoid, ± 1.25 × 1.25 mm.. Cyathia ± 2.5 × 4.5 mm., with funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely rectangular, ± 1 × 2 mm., contiguous, brownish pink; lobes transversely elliptic, ± 1.25 × 1.5 mm.. Male flowers: bracteoles spathulate, deeply dentate; stamens 3 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 2.5 mm. long, joined at the base, lightly papillose, apices thickened.. Capsule subsessile, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 3.5 × 4 mm., densely papillose, purple.. Seeds ovoid with truncate base, 2 × 1.5 mm., grey, minutely tuberculate.
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