Perennial, extensive, armed, climbing or scandent shrub; roots tuberous, fasciculated or fusiform; stem and branches angled or terete, striate; leaves scaly, membranous, linear-subulate, cladodes in clusters of 2-6, oblong-linear, triquetrous, finely falcate, acuminate; lower spines longer, straight or recurved, spinous pointed; inflorescence solitary or fascicled, branched, axillary racemes; pedicels filiform, very slender, jointed above the middle, solitary or in pairs; bracts minute, ovate or triangular; perianth lobes-6, greenish-white, linear-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, distinct, spreading; stamens 6, opposite, filaments short, anthers minute, oblong, adnate to and slightly smaller than perianth lobes; ovary 3-celled, ovules 6-8 in each locule, style short; stigma spreading; berries fleshy, globose, smooth, deep red at maturity; seeds usually solitary.