Spreading shrub to 1.5 m, male or bisexual, grey-green to dark grey-green, densely pubescent with stellate hairs; prickles to 5 mm long, abundant on stems and calyx-tube. Leaves lanceolate; lamina 3–7 cm long, 10–12 mm wide, slightly discolorous, entire; petiole to 10 mm long. Juvenile leaves up to 18 cm long, lobed; lobes broadly triangular or rounded; petiole to 3 cm long. Male plant: inflorescence 10–14-flowered; peduncle c. 4 cm long; rachis to 8 cm long; pedicels 8–12 mm long; calyx 6–8 mm long, the lobes narrowly triangular to linear, 4–5 mm long; corolla broadly stellate, 15–25 mm diam., pale lavender; anthers 4–5 mm long. Female plant: flowers solitary; peduncle absent; pedicel to 12 mm long; calyx 10–11 mm long, the lobes linear, 5–6 mm long; corolla broadly stellate to rotate, 2–3 cm diam., lavender; anthers 4 mm long. Berry depressed globular, 15–20 mm diam., pale, enclosed in enlarged calyx. Seeds 1.5 mm long, dark brownish.
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