Monoecious, dark green; stem lip to 25-30 cm long and up to 1 mm broad, profusely branched particularly in upper part, intemodes without spines. Leaves linear, 15-40 x 0.7-1.5 mm, serrulate to spinose-dentate with 7-25 teeth on each side, apex acute with 1-2 teeth, sometimes with some spines on the back of the midrib. Sheath 1.5-3 mm long as well as broad, short rounded-truncate or spinulose, with 5-8 teeth on each side. Male flowers: solitary, enclosed in a spathe, neck conical or cylindrical, anther 1-thecous. Female flower without spathe, often 2-3 together, style with 2-stigmas. Seeds slightly recurved at apex; areoles broader than long and arranged ladder like.