Dwarf shrub, erect, up to 400 mm tall, diam. c. 700 mm, with a tangled habit. Branches articulated, cortex green and succulent but not persistent on older internodes, falling off to reveal dark bark. Internodes cylindrical to rounded, epidermal bladder cells xeromorphic, isodiametric (equal-sided), in longitudinal rows, in cross-section, cells tall, distinguishable as a thick white layer around the green cortex. Leaves semi-cylindrical, shortly connate when young, with mesomorphic epidermal bladder cells, sometimes with microscopic cilia at the base, deciduous. Inflorescences are few-flowered dichasia, diam. 5-10 mm. Calyx with 4 lobes, lobes shortly connate and erect during anthesis. Flowers Petaloid staminodes ('petals') white, free (not joined), some longer ones recurving over calyx lobes, filamentous staminodes absent. Ovary semi-inferior, placentation axile. Fruit a hygrochastic capsule with 4 locules, diam. 2-3 mm, valve wings in-flexed over the expanded valves, expanding keels connate in pairs, without seed bags, seeds D-shaped, cream-coloured or light brown with a darker rim.
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