Erect, sparse, clonal shrub to 2m, bright green; leaf axils, petioles, base of younger leaves and inflorescence pubescent with minute stellate hairs; glandular hairs present on calyx of bisexual flower; prickles 5–10 mm long, abundant on young stems and calyx, scattered to absent elsewhere. Leaves elliptic; lamina 7–10 cm long, 3–6 cm wide, sometimes larger, concolorous, shallowly lobed; lobes triangular, with 1–2 smaller lobes; petiole 1–3(10) cm long. Inflorescence of one bisexual flower at base of cyme of up to 60 male flowers; peduncle to 2 cm long; rachis 4–10 cm long. Bisexual flower: pedicel 18 mm long; calyx 20–30 mm long, ribbed, the lobes narrowly triangular with linear apices, unequal, 15–25 mm long; corolla stellate, 45–55 mm diam., purple; anthers 10–12 mm long. Male flowers similar: pedicels 10–15 mm long; calyx 7–18 mm long, the lobes 5–15 mm long; corolla broadly stellate, 35–40 mm diam.; anthers 8–11 mm long. Berry globular, slightly bilobed, 1.5–2 cm diam., pale green when ripe. Seeds 4–4.5 mm long, black.
Home