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 triangular segments are 50-150 x 120 mm. The spines form a spiky margin along each ridge on the branches. Spines are found in pairs and are usually 5 to 7 mm long.

The yellowish-green bisexual flowers, which are clustered along ridges between the spines, are found in groups of 3 cymes (flower formed at the tip and subsequent ones formed below) situated towards the tips of the branches. Flowering time is from September to October.

The fruit is a 3-lobed capsule, 15 x 8 mm long and green in colour. Red markings are also visible on the fruit which appear in September to October onwards and overlap with the flowering time.