Spiny succulent dwarf perennial, with a much-reduced underground stem merging into an obovoid tuberous root to c. 15–25 × 8 cm, tapering into a long tap-root below.Branches numerous from the stem apex, erect to 15 cm or trailing to 25 cm, simple or sometimes branched at the base, c. 6 mm in diameter, 3–4(6)-angled, withering and finally deciduous in the dry season; angles with prominent tubercles c. 2.5 mm high and 2–10 mm apart along the margins.Spine shields to 3 mm in diameter, rounded, at tips of tubercles, not decurrent; spines 1.5–4.5 mm long, expanded at the base; prickles rudimentary.Leaves 3 × 1 mm, lanceolate, fleshy, deciduous; young plants sometimes producing several leaves from stem apex or branch bases, to c. 5 × 1 cm, lanceolate, tapering into a petiole to 2 cm long.Cymes produced from stem apex after branches have withered, numerous, erect to 3–6 cm long, 1–2-forked, with peduncles 2–4 cm long and cyme branches to 1.5 cm long, cymes sometimes in 2–6-rayed pseudo-umbels on lush specimens with peduncles to 3 cm long; flowering eyes c. 2 mm above the spine shields, rarely producing simple subsessile cymes before the branches wither; bracts c. 2.75 × 2 mm, ovate, denticulate.Cyathia 3 × 3.5 mm, with cup-shaped involucres; glands transversely oblong to 2 mm, touching; lobes 1 × 1 mm, rounded fimbriate.Male flowers: bracteoles 3 mm long, laciniate; stamens 4 mm long.Female flower: styles 1.5 mm long, free to the base with spreading bifid apices.Capsule deeply obtusely lobed, 3.25 × 5 mm, exserted on a recurved pedicel 6 mm long.Seeds c. 2 mm in diameter, subglobose, smooth.
