Plants 0.5-10 m, spreading, globose, compact to somewhat open. Stems ± terete, green twigs thorn-tipped, 25-70 cm. Leaves 0.2-1.5 × 0.5 mm. Inflorescences 3-15 mm. Pedicels 3-6 mm. Flowers: sepals greenish white, ovate-deltate, 1-2 mm, glabrous; petals greenish white or cream, obovate or oblanceolate, 3-4.8 × 0.8-1.4 mm; filaments brownish, 2.8-4 mm, flat; anthers 0.8-1 mm, slightly curved; gynophore (stipe) 0.3-0.8 mm; ovary ovoid, 1-1.2 mm; style 0.4-1.4 mm. Fruits ca. 5 mm, mucronate from persistent style. Seeds 3-3.5 mm. 2n = 44, 88.

Plant: Shrub usually wider than tall, often forming thickets; stems leafless, twigs slender and thorn-tipped Flowers: inflorescence of small semipersistent racemes; flowers pale yellow, clustered, ~4mm Fruit: a globose berry ~3mm.