Monoecious shrub, fleshy, cactiform, spiny, glabrous, 1-2 m in height, with very short trunk and numerous erect ramifications. Branches green-glaucous to green-reddish, \u00b1 cylindrical (1.2 cm in diameter) covered by triangular protuberances, arranged spirally and protruding 5-10 mm. Spines (2-8 cm) arranged in pairs and located above each protuberance. They are also caducous, therefore the older stems are unarmed. Unlike the other species in its subgenus, the leaves are well developed (2-8 \u00d7 1-5 cm) alternate or bunched and arranged at the end of the branches, sessile, fleshy, glabrous, oblong-spatulate or obtriangular, cuneate at the base and truncated and finely dentate at the apex. Inflorescence comprised of 3 flowers at the end of the same peduncle (1 cm), born at the scars left by fallen leaves. Flowers greenish with 5 yellow nectaries. Fruit a capsule, trilobed, \u00b1 globose (3-7 mm in diameter), glabrous, green to beige when ripe, with a recurved pedicel 5-7 mm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-42968","species","type-species","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n