Tufted succulent perennial; stems semi-prostrate, sparsely branching, to 30 cm. long and 2 cm. thick, 4–5-angled, darkish green longitudinally streaked with brighter yellow-green; angles with distinct teeth to 1.5 cm. apart.. Spinescence brownish grey; spine-shields elongated to 15 mm. long, divergent above the spines into 2 arms to 3 mm. long, decurrent almost to the flowering eye below; spines to 2 cm.long; prickles to 2.5 mm. long.. Leaves deltoid, ± 1 × 1.25 mm.. Cymes 1–3 in a vertical line, maturing successively, 1-forked, with cyme-branches ± 1.5 mm. long, all parts papillose; bracts subquadrate, ± 1.25 × 1.25 mm.. Cyathia ± 2 × 3 mm., with funnel-shaped involucres; glands transversely rectangular, ± 0.7 × 1.5 mm., yellow; lobes subcircular, ± 1 mm. in diameter.. Male flowers: bracteoles spathulate, deeply dentate; stamens 3 mm. long.. Female flower: styles 1.5 mm. long, free to the base, apices thickened.. Capsule sessile, obtusely 3-lobed, ± 2.5 × 3.2 mm.. Seeds ovoid, 1.7 × 1.4 mm., reddish brown, minutely tuberculate.
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