Spiny succulent dwarf tuberous-rooted perennial, 1–several-stemmed, often rhizomatous.Branches produced at ground level, simple or sometimes rebranched at the base, seldom above, erect to spreading, 2–4(5)-angled, to 20 cm long or more, 5–9 mm in diameter, distinctly longitudinally whitish-striped between the angles; angles with prominent tubercles 3–5 mm high and 1–3 cm apart along the margins, crowned by the spine shields.Spine shields obovate, decurrent to 1 cm; spines 2–9 mm long, needle-like; prickles minute or absent.Leaves 8–15 × 3.5 mm, lanceolate, caducous.Cymes shortly pedunculate, several times forked with cyme branches to 4 mm long, or cyathia solitary; bracts c. 1.25 × 1 mm, ovate, apiculate.Cyathia with cup-shaped involucres, 2.5 × 3.5–5 mm; glands transversely oblong, 1.5–2.25 mm wide, touching, greenish.Male flowers: bracteoles c. 2.5 mm long, fimbriate; stamens c. 4 mm long.Female flower: styles 1.75 mm long, united to halfway, with spreading thickened, shortly bifid apices.Capsule obtusely lobed, truncate, 4.5 × 6–7 mm, far exserted on a recurved pedicel c. 1 cm long.Seeds subglobose, c. 3 mm in diameter, smooth, brown.