Shrub, 1–3 m tall, glabrous; young branches with many short shoots subtended by 3–5-fid spines; spines 1–4 cm long. Leaves crowded, appearing simple, but with 2 very reduced filiform leaflets at the base; terminal leaflet oblanceolate to obovate, 2.3–7 x 0.9–3.8 cm, mucronate, usually with spiny teeth at the margin, leathery. Flowers several in little-branched panicles 2.5–7.5 cm long. Flowers yellow; inner sepals 6–7 mm long, rounded at the apex; petals 6, 4.5–6 mm long, obovate. Ovary narrowly ellipsoid, 2–6-ovulate. Berry ellipsoid, 8–12 x 6–7 mm, red or purple, pruinose, 1–4-seeded, with persistent stigma.
Range
N2 East Africa, the Nyika Plateau in Malawi and Zambia
Altitude range
2000–2350 m.
Distribution
SOMALIA Boaler B 62; Bally 10345; Glover & Gilliland 536.
