Erect, intricate, clonal shrub to 1 m, green; leaves, young stems and calyx variably pubescent with stellate and some minute glandular hairs; hairs sparse on upper leaf-surface, denser on lower surface; prickles 5–10 mm long, usually abundant on stems, leaves and peduncles, absent elsewhere. Leaves linear or linear-hastate; lamina 3–6 cm long, 2–7 mm wide, sometimes larger, concolorous to slightly discolorous, entire or with 1–2 basal lobes; petiole 5–15 mm long. Inflorescence short, 3–6– flowered; peduncle absent or to 3 mm long; pedicels to 12 mm long. Calyx 2–4 mm long; lobes triangular, 1–3 mm long. Corolla stellate, deeply incised, 15–20 mm diam., white or pale blue. Anthers 1–3.5 mm long. Berry globular, 5–8 mm diam., shiny red to almost black. Seeds 2–4 mm long, pale yellowish or light grey-brown.
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