A much-branched shrub. Stem terete, about 2 1/2 lin. in diam. 1 1/2 ft. below the apex of the branchlets. Branches and branchlets conspicuously flattened, ribbed in a dried state; internodes broadly linear or oblanceolate-linear, more rarely oblong, tape-like, broadest in their upper part, little or not at all contracted at the apex, more or less tapering into the base, 1/2–1 1/2 in. long, 1–2 1/4 lin. broad, those of the main branches much thickened along the middle. Flowers diœcious, tetramerous. Male inflorescence: Flowers solitary, sessile. Bud ellipsoid, 1 1/4 lin. long, solid base 1/4 lin. long. Receptacular tube 3/8– 1/2 lin. long. Petals deltoid-ovate, 1/2– 5/8 lin. long. Anthers obtusely trigonous, elliptic in outline, 1/2– 5/8 lin. long, 3/8 lin. broad. Female inflorescences consisting of 1 or 3 flowers, which are usually unprovided with bracteal cups. Bracteal cup, when present, embracing only the base of the receptacle at the time of expansion of the flower, sessile, bilobed, 1/2– 5/8 lin. high, 5/8 lin. long; lobes ascending, very obtuse, 3/8 lin. long. Receptacle and pedicel together obovoid-oblong, 7/8–1 lin. long, 5/8 lin. broad. Petals yellowish-green, oblong-ovate, 5/8– 3/4 lin. long, 3/8– 1/2 lin. broad, deciduous. Style distinct, short, thick, compressed-quadrangular; stigma projecting 3/8– 1/2 lin. above the insertion of the petals. Young berry pedicelled, orange-red, ovoid.
