Caespitose dwarf spiny succulent perennial, with a large elongated tuberous root merging into a short underground stem to form a body to 30 × 15 cm.Branches numerous and densely clustered, 6–30 cm long, 2–4.5 cm wide, obviously (2)3-angled when young but becoming twisted in a tight spiral, obscurely constricted into segments 1.5–2 cm long; angles with irregular prominent tubercles 5–18 mm apart along the margins.Spine shields usually joined in a continuous horny margin, but separate at the constrictions; spines to 2.5 cm long, reduced to c. 2 mm at the constrictions; prickles vestigial.Leaves minute, fleshy, deciduous.Cymes solitary, simple, with peduncles 2–4 mm long; bracts oblong, c. 2.5 mm long.Cyathia to 4 × 7 mm with cup-shaped involucres; glands transversely oblong, c. 3.5 mm wide, touching, yellow; lobes rounded, c. 1.5 × 1.5 mm, denticulate.Male flowers: bracteoles c. 3.5 mm long, laciniate; stamens c. 6 mm long, well exserted.Female flower: styles c. 2 mm long, joined to halfway, apices spreading, bifid.Capsule c. 1 cm in diameter, obtusely lobed, sessile.Seeds c. 3 × 2.5 mm, subglobose, buff, smooth.
