Subshrubs dioecious. Stems suberect, 30--60 cm, indistinctly striate, yellowish when dried, ± covered with stripelike remains of whitish, hyaline periderm; branches slightly striate. Cladodes in fascicles of 4--7, slightly curved, 5--10 × ca. 0.5 mm, subterete, slightly flattened, irregularly grooved. Leaf spur spinescent; spine slightly hooked, 4--6 mm on main stems, 3.5--4 mm on branches, woody, sharp. Inflorescences developing with cladodes. Male flowers: in clusters of 2--4; pedicel 3--4 mm, articulate below middle; perianth purplish red, subcampanulate, ca. 3.5 mm; filaments adnate to perianth segments for ca. 1/4 their length. Berry 6--7 mm in diam. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Jul.

* Hillsides, river flats; 3800--4000 m. Xizang.