glabrous, spiny; the branches angularly striate; spines slender, sometimes floriferous; leaves tufted, sub-solitary on the younger twigs, elliptical, obovate-cuneate or elliptico-lanceolate, obtuse, acute or sub-acuminate, spinuloso-serrate or sub-entire, netted beneath; panicles axillary, cymose, short. often glomerate; capsules rather large, trigonous, 3-celled, 3–1 seeded. A much branched shrub, 2–4 ft. high, with spreading, spiny, or sub-unarmed branches, the spines patent, 4–6 lines, rarely 1 inch long, sometimes leaf and flower bearing. Leaves very unequal, polymorphous, always larger than in the preceding, some 1–1 1/2 inches long and 6–9 lines wide, others 8–9 lines long and 5 wide; in var. β. the lower 3/4–1 inch long and wide, obtuse at base, with a recurved or acute point, upper 6–4 lines long. Petiole 1 line long. Panicle 3–5 flowered or 7–12 fl. subsessile, or pedunculate, always shorter than the leaf. Fl. small and white, 4–5 fid. Stamens short. Capsule as large as a pea, reddish; seed obovate, with a thin, yellow aril.—This may possibly be C. saxatilis, Burch. Trav. 2. p. 264, from Kor Rock Fountain.
