A succulent somewhat spiny erect to scrambling shrub up to 2.5 m high; main stem c. 4 cm in diameter, subcylindric towards the base, angular above, sparingly branched and rebranched.Branches ascending, occasionally ± constricted into segments, 4(5)-angled, becoming subterete with age, c. 1(2) cm in diameter; angles shallowly crenate, with tubercles 1–2.5 cm apart along the margins.Spine shields small and very slender, ± obovate, up to 1 mm wide, narrowly decurrent almost to the flowering eye below, sometimes united into a horny margin; spines minute or absent; prickles 1–2 mm long, or obsolete.Leaves fleshy, to 10 mm long, orbicular, apiculate, caducous.Cymes solitary, simple; branches subsessile to c. 2 mm long; bracts c. 2 mm long, ± elliptic.Cyathia 4 × 5–7 mm, with cup-shaped involucres; glands transversely 3–4 mm oblong-elliptic, yellow-green, outer margin faintly pinkish; lobes 2.5 mm wide, transversely broadly elliptic, fimbriate.Male flowers: bracteoles c. 3.5 mm long, broadly laciniate, fimbriate; stamens c. 5 mm long.Female flower: styles 1.75 mm long, free almost to the base, spreading recurved, apices shortly bifid.Capsule 3–3.5 × 4–5 mm, subglobose, shortly exserted on a pedicel c. 1.5 mm long.Seeds c. 2 mm long, ellipsoid globose, tuberculate.
