Home
Cyathia to 3 × 5–7 mm, with funnel-shaped involucres, bright red; glands 5(6), 1.5 × 2.5–4 mm, transversely elliptic, yellowish with reddish margin; lobes 1.5 × 2–2.5 mm, transversely oblong, fimbriate, dark red.
Spine shields ± obovate, forming a ± continuous horny margin along the angles, 1–2.5 mm wide; spines to 1 cm long, diverging; prickles rudimentary; secondary rudimentary spines often flanking the flowering eye.
Cymes solitary, simple or reduced to single cyathia; peduncle 1.5–5.5 × 5.75 mm; bracts c. 2.5 × 5.5 mm, semicircular, blackish-red.
Female flower: styles stout, 2.5–3 mm long, spreading recurved, united at the base, stigmas capitate.
Succulent shrub up to 1 m high, branching from a partially exposed tuberous root.
Male flowers c. 60: bracteoles numerous, fimbriate; stamens c. 5.5 mm long.
Capsule to 5.5 × 9.5 mm, obtusely lobed, subsessile, shiny bright red.
Seeds c. 3.5 × 3 mm, subglobose, smooth, brown.
Leaves c. 2 × 1.5 mm, ovate, caducous.
