Erect subshrub 0.3–1.2(–2) m tall; stems many, red-brown, 1–4 mm thick at base, glabrous to scabrid.. Leaves ovate to orbicular, (0.5–)1–5.2 cm long, (0.5–)0.9–5 cm wide, apex rounded to acute, rarely acuminate, base cordate to obtuse, margin 1(–2)-serrate to dentate, stellate-subscabrid to softly hairy on both sides, discolorous; petiole terete, 1–2(–5) cm long, hairy, lacking glands at apex; stipules linear to narrowly lanceolate, 4–6 mm long, hairy.. Inflorescence spike-like, terminal, sometimes pendulous, 4–18(–54) cm long, unforked (rarely with up to 5 forks, each up to 16 cm long), internodes 7–40 mm long, usually with only highly reduced leaves 2–4 mm long, each with 2 round-cylindrical glands 0.75 mm diameter at the petiole-apex, but sometimes with normal leaves at the basal nodes; cymes 1–5 per node, each (1–)3-flowered, leaf-opposed; peduncle 1–3 mm long; bracts ovate-triangular, as stipules; pedicels ± 1.5 mm long.. Sepals oblanceolate, (4–)6–9 mm long, (0.75–)2 mm wide, densely to sparingly grey stellate-tomentose, apical spine (0.5–)0.75–1.5(–3) mm long.. Petals spathulate, ± 5 mm long, 3 mm wide, basal 1 mm of claw with hairy margin; stamens 20–61; ovary hairy.. Fruit spherical to ellipsoid, 5–11 mm long, 5–10 mm wide, the entire surface, including spines, yellowish-grey tomentose, sutures lacking, spines 40–55, each up to 3 mm long, with wide bases 1 mm wide, tip hooked or with inclined, usually broken bristle.. Fig. 12/7–9 (p. 77).
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