Leaves petiolate, rarely somewhat glaucous; lamina (3·2) 4·2–11 (12) × 0·9–2·2 (2·8) cm., narrowly elliptic or narrowly oblanceolate to linear-oblong, ± acute and shortly apiculate at the apex, with margin usually rather remotely curved-spinose-serrate, narrowly cuneate at the base, chartaceous, with main lateral nerves (especially the basal ones) ascending gradually to the margin and the ± densely reticulate reddish tertiary venation equally prominent on both sides or less prominent below; petiole c. 2 mm. long, rather stout; stipules c. 3–7 mm. long, linear-triangular, entire or ± divided, usually tardily deciduous.
A small shrub. It grows 15 cm high. It can flower at ground level. It forms low cushions from a woody rhizome or underground stem. The leaves are 4-11 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The edges are curved and have teeth. The flowers can be single or in groups of 2-5 in the axils of second year shoots. They are orange-yellow. The fruit are fleshy and 6-7 mm long by 5-6 mm wide.
Shrublet up to c. 15 cm. high, but sometimes flowering at ground level, usually forming low cushions from a polycephalous woody rhizome with ± smooth or gnarled brown bark; branches brown, densely pustulose-lenticellate.
Flowers solitary or 2–5 in an umbellate or shortly racemose inflorescence, axillary on second-year shoots; pedicels 1·5–3·3 cm. long in fruit, articulated at (or the terminal one rarely up to 2 mm. above) the base.
Sepals 5–8 (10) mm. long in flower, elliptic, rounded, becoming carmine, 1·1–1·5 mm. long, ± convex and erect or ± spreading in fruit.
Drupelets 6–6·5 (10) × 5–5·5 (7) mm., subglobose (rarely flattened-obovoid), inserted near the base; embryo slightly curved.
Stamens with anthers (1·75) 2–3 mm. long, 1/3–2/3 as long as the filaments, straight, dehiscing by longitudinal slits.
Carpels 5, with styles completely united and 5-lobed or globose stigma (rarely with free apices and separate stigmas).
Petals bright yellow to orange-yellow, 12–13 (20) × 7–8 (13) mm., obovate and unguiculate.