Herbs dioecious. Roots rather slender. Stems suberect, 20--170 cm, slightly striate-ridged distally; branches distinctly striate-ridged, ridges usually cartilaginous denticulate, particularly on young branches. Cladodes in fascicles of 4--12, straight, 6--15 × ca. 0.6 mm, subterete, slightly flattened, irregularly grooved, usually cartilaginous denticulate. Leaf spur slightly spinescent; spine 1--5 mm on main stems, very short on branches. Inflorescences developing after cladodes. Flowers of both sexes paired; pedicel usually 6--13 mm. Male flowers: perianth purplish, 6--7 mm; filaments adnate to perianth segments for ca. 1/2 their length. Female flowers: perianth ca. 3 mm. Berry red, 7--10 mm in diam., ca. 4-seeded. Fl. Apr--May, fr. Jun--Aug.

* Forests, thickets, grassy slopes; 2400--3300 m. Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi.