Dense, intricately branched spinescent shrub to 1 m high. Leaves alternate, often clustered, elliptic, fleshy, 2–5 mm long, closely mealy with vesicular hairs. Inflorescence a narrow condensed cyme (sometimes spinescent) with 1–4 lateral and a large terminal flower. Perianth globose, 1.5 mm diam., mealy. Male flower: disc inconspicuous, glabrous; pistillode minute. Female flower: staminodes minute; style minute; stigmas spreading, slender, subulate. Berry at first enveloped by perianth. Seed c. 1.5 mm diam.; testa smooth to minutely granular.