Gymnosporia elliptica Schönland

Suffrutex, up to 0.8 m high; stems from underground rootstock; thorns few, mostly on basal stems. Branches angular, becoming terete. Leaves fasciculate or alternate, coriaceous, grey-green; lamina linear-obovate, 25-50 x 4-8 mm, apex obtuse to round, mucronate, base long-tapering; margins subentire or with few teeth in upper half; venation smooth above, wrinkled below when dry; petioles ± 0.5 mm long. Inflorescence axillary, few-flowered cymes; peduncles 4-10 mm long. Flowers white. Sepals triangular, ± 0.8 mm long, margins laciniate. Petals oblong, ± 2 mm long, margins uneven. Male flowers: stamens shorter than petals. Female flowers: staminodes shorter than in male flowers; ovary 3-locular; stigma 3-branched. Fruit a 3-valved capsule, globose, 2-4 mm long, rugose, with reddish brown patches. Seeds partially enveloped by yellow aril.