This spiny, succulent tree has a grey naked trunk up to 3 m high. Round holes on the trunk indicate where old branches have fallen off. Branches (succulent leaves) are conspicuously 4- to 6-winged and resemble a chunky string of beads.The spines form a spiky margin along each ridge on the branches. The yellowish-green flowers, which are clustered along ridges between the spines, are situated towards the tips of the branches.
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