glabrous, spiny; stem and branches angular-striate; spines slender; leaves tufted, cuneate-obovate, truncate-obtuse, or obcordate, spinuloso-serrulate, or denticulate, very smooth above, with raised nerves beneath, coriaceous, glaucescent; panicles axillary, cymose, longer than the leaf; capsules small, globose-trigonous, apiculate. A much branched shrub, with terete, ribbed and furrowed branches. Spines 1/2 inch long. Leaves rarely solitary, 1/2 inch long, 3 lines wide, obtuse, emarginate or tipped with a recurved point, entire at base; petiole very short. Panicles solitary or several together, 1/2–1 inch long. Fl. small, 5 fid. Petals oblong, equalling the stamens. Capsule as large as a pepper-corn, furrowed, 3 valved, 3–2 seeded.
