An erect bush, or perennial plant usually forming woody stems, often growing as a shrub  an occasionary more as a tree of 2.50of height, but can occasionally reach 10 m tall. Stems andpetioles provided with red short hooked thorns. Branchea with internodes of 3 cm provided with dense hairs. The leaves are of various shapes. Leaf blade profoundly palmate compound, prostrate plant.

It has an abortifacient properties.

Edible leaves, a fiberr obtained fron the bark is used to make string and mats