Intricately much-branched, mostly impenetrable thorny shrub up to 3 meters with tomentose zigzag (divaricate) branches. This species is deciduous, shedding its leaves in response to climatic conditions, and often appears leafless or sparsely foliated. Leaves are entire, ovate-orbicular, alternate, measuring up to 2 cm, tomentose finely pubescent on both surfaces, 3-5-nerved from the base with a pair of stipular spines, one straight, 10 mm long and the other hooked and smaller. Flowers yellowish-green measuring 3-4 mm and organised in dense axilliary tomentose cymes with sepals triangular, tomentose; petals equalling the sepals, obovate and a 10-lobed disc. Small globose fruit yellow to reddish-brown measuring up to 15 mm with dark brown seeds of 4 mm.