Roots tuberous. Suberect, tall, subshrub, young branches ash grey to white, branchlets grooved. Spine c. 8-12(-15) mm long, woody. Cladodes many, frequently 5-20, filiform, terete, ascending or erect or recurved, 10-25 mm long. Inflorescence 4-6 cm long raceme. Pedical up to 6 mm long, articulated below or in the middle. Flowers bisexual. Perianth 3 x 2 mm, obtuse. Filaments up to 2 mm, attached to the base of perianth. Ovary 2 x 1 mm, narrow towards the base, style upto 0.6 mm, stigma trilobed, lobes up to 1 mm. Berry dark red, 4-5 mm in diameter.
Fl.Per.: October-November
Type: Roxb. Illustr. No. 1825 (Sealy in Kew Bull.: 312. 1956).
Distribution: Pakistan (Malakand, Kohat, Waziristan, Rawalpindi); Kashmir and India (Kumaon).
Tuberous roots are used as demulcent and tonic; said to be useful in diarrhoea, dysentery and general weakness (Kirtikar & Basu, revised by Blatter, Cains & Bhaskar, Ind. Medicinal Plants 4; 2501. 1991).
