Shrub to 2 m, densely pubescent with glandular-stellate hairs, yellowish-green, rarely grey-green, the stems and young leaves yellowish; prickles to 5 mm long, abundant on stems, sparse elsewhere. Leaves ovate-elliptic; lamina 5–8 cm long, 4–5.5 cm wide, sometimes larger, concolorous, entire; petiole 2–4 cm long. Inflorescence up to 12–flowered, several lower flowers bisexual, the upper flowers male; peduncle 3–4 cm long; rachis 2–3 cm long. Bisexual flowers: pedicel to 15 mm long; calyx 8–13 mm long, enlarged in fruit, the lobes lanceolate, unequal, 4–10 mm long; corolla broadly stellate to rotate, 25–40 mm diam., purple; anthers 7–8 mm long. Male flowers similar: corolla to 30 mm diam.; anthers 5–7 mm long; ovary, style and stigma rudimentary. Berry ovoid to globular, occasionally slightly conical, c. 15 mm diam., pale bright green when ripe, drying brown; fruiting calyx 15–18 mm long. Seeds 2 mm long, light brown.
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