Shrub or tree, up to 8 m high, spiny, usually low and bushy; young stems and spines grey-green, glabrous or puberulous to pubescent. Spines arising (1–)2–5(–10) cm above the leaf-axil, (2–)2.5–7.5(–11) cm long, very frequently bearing secondary spines. Scale leaves occasional on young growth, 2–3 mm long. Foliage leaves on stems and spines, sessile or subsessile; leaflets sessile, orbicular to broadly obovate or obovate-elliptic, 0.75–6.5 x 0.8–4.8 cm, usually leathery, often undulate, rounded to broadly cuneate at the base, rounded to truncate at the apex, glabrous or pubescent. Flowers 4-merous, in few–8(–12)-flowered sometimes pedunculate clusters on stems and spines; pedicels 2.5–16 mm long, glabrous or pubescent. Sepals 3.5–5.5 mm long, sparsely hairy. Petals obovate-elliptic, yellowish- or olive-green, 3–6.5 mm long. Stamens 8. Ovary glabrous to densely pubescent or pilose; style 1–2 mm long. Fruit not elongating in early development, swelling at first proximally, becoming ovoid, rounded at both ends, ripening orange-yellow, 2.5–3 x 1.8–2.5 cm.
