Shrub or small tree, deciduous, hermaphrodite, spiny, up to 3(4) m in height. In the eastern Rif there are some old tree specimens with a well defined trunk, but the norm for this species (at least currently) is to be a highly ramose hemispherical shrub, with branches in zig-zag, very intricate and spiny, without a well defined trunk. Stems and old branches with smooth bark, slightly fissured, greyish. Branchlets glabrous, greyish, young branchlets of the current year greenish. Stipules spiny, of 2 types, one straight and long, and the other curved and shorter. Leaves alternate, deciduous in winter \u2014new leaves do not emerge until the summer\u2014 (1-2.5 \u00d7 0.8-1.5 cm), ovate or elliptic, obtuse, attenuate or rounded at the base, with slightly crenate margin, with only 3 longitudinal veins, slightly coriaceous, glabrous, light green on the upper side and slightly matt on the underside. Inflorescence in sparse axillary cymes, but because they are bunched together the branch seems to be full of flowers. Calyx greenish-yellow, very open, with 5 triangular sepals opened in star-shape. Petals 5, very small and 5 stamens that grow together and are alternately arranged with the sepals. Fruit drupaceous, globose, reddish, 10-15 mm in diameter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-12669","species","type-species","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n