a shrub; branches terete, densely white stellate tomentose when young, glabrous and dark brown in age; spines many, up to 7 lin. long, curved, very sharp, laterally compressed, tomentose at the broad base; leaves 3 1/2 in. by 2 1/4 in., somewhat deltoid in general outline, irregularly sinuately lobed, more or less spiny on both surfaces, glabrous and green above, densely pubescent with white stellate hairs beneath, acute, more or less unequal at the base; peduncle short; lowest flower of cyme alone fertile; calyx 5 lin. long, cupshaped, stellately tomentose outside, spiny; lobes triangular, acute; corolla deeply 5-partite, stellately tomentose outside, more sparingly so inside; lobes oblong, 8 lin. by 3 lin.; filaments short; anthers oblong-lanceolate, 3 lin. long, with 2 small apical pores; style 5 lin. long, sulcate; berry globose, smooth, 1 3/4 in. in diam. null
