Small tree or large, armed, glabrous, fleshy shrub; branches jointed, cylindric, obscurely 5-angled, succulent with tubercles in 5-irregular rows; stipular thorns paired, stout, reddish brown, divergent, arising from thick tubercles; leaves subterminal, fleshy, obovate or narrowly oblong, deciduous, gradually narrowed into a very short petiole; stipular thorns solitary or in pairs; cyathia 1-3 together in axillary cymes; central sessile, usually with male fascicles only, the laterals with single female and 5 fascicles of male flowers; involucres red or pale yellow forming dichotomous, short peduncled cymes; pedicels short, thick; lobes large, erect, rounded or cordate, fimbriate; stamens without floral leaves of any kind, anther 2-celled, globose; ovary 3-celled, 3-ovuled also without floral leaves, stigmas capitate, styles-3, connate, high up undivided; capsules of 3, 2-valved cocci, separating elastically from central columella, compressed or sharply 3 lobed or trigonous.