Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Subshrubs hermaphroditic.

Stems: Stems ± climbing, branched, to 1 m, branches distinctly striate–ridged. Cladodes (leaflike stems) in axils of main stems and branches. Cladodes in fascicles of 1––5, linear, 1––3 cm × 1.5––2.5 mm, green, flat.

Roots: Roots fibrous and tuberous.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Appressed to stem, not green, scalelike, base spurred. Leaf spur spinescent; spine slightly hooked, 3––5 mm and sharp on main stems, very short and not sharp on branches, woody. Leaves membranous, 1–2 mm; blade diamond-shaped, attached in middle, tapering to slender apex. Margins entire. Veins parallel. Petioles absent. Sessile. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences developing after cladodes, solitary or paired, axillary, each a many–flowered raceme or panicle 2-2.5 cm; bracts linear, 2-5 mm. pedicel ca. 2 mm, articulate at middle. Flowers bisexual; perianth rotate to campanulate. Pedicel 5–8 mm, jointed 2–3 mm above base. Tepals 6, white to pale pink, 3–4 × 1.5–2 mm. Stamen 6, distinct, equal; anthers versatile, 2-locular, dehiscence introrse. Ovary superior, 3-locular, septal nectaries present; style 3–branched distally.

Fruit: Berries red; 8–10 mm in diam. Seeds 1 per fruit.

Ploidy: 2n = 40; 60

Habitat:

Elevation Range: