Shrub or treelet up to 4 m tall, much-branched, with up to 1.5 cm long lateral thorns, dioecious; short-shoots often present, bearing (clusters of) leaves and/or inflorescences. Leafy twigs 1-2.5 mm thick, whitish to brownish puberulous unilaterally or all over (or glabrous). Leaves distichous; lamina elliptic to (sub)ovate or to narrowly ovate, 3-12(-18) by 2-6(-7.5) cm, coriaceous, apex acuminate to subacute, acumen apiculate and usually 2-lobed, base rounded to obtuse, margin subspinulose-denticulate in the upper part of the lamina or subentire; both surfaces glabrous; midrib ± impressed above, lateral veins 6-10 pairs, tertiary venation reticulate; petiole 0.2-0.5 cm long, whitish puberulous unilaterally only or all over (or glabrous); stipules 0.2-0.3 cm long, (sub)glabrous, caducous (or subpersistent); terminal bud spinose in dry material. Staminate inflorescences axillary, solitary or in pairs, racemose; peduncle 0.1-0.3 cm long, sparsely minutely puberulous; raceme 0.5-2.5 cm long; flowers numerous; pedicel c. 0.1 mm long, minutely puberulous; perianth c. 1 mm long, minutely puberulous; stamens 2-2.5 mm long, anthers c. 0.8 mm long; bracts basally attached, few, 0.5-1.5 mm long, sparsely minutely puberulous. Pistillate inflorescences axillary, solitary, uniflorous; peduncle 0.2-2 cm long, minutely puberulous; tepals 1-1.5 mm long, minutely puberulous, in fruit hardly enlarged, up to 3 mm long; ovary c. 1 mm long, style 0-4 mm long, stigmas 1-2 mm long; bracts basally attached, few, 0.3-1 mm long, minutely puberulous. Drupe subglobose to ellipsoid, 0.6-1 cm long, dehiscent (?), whitish.
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