Evergreen shrub; branches elongate, scandent, with erect spines in axils, woolly-pubescent on buds and stipules; leaves oblong to obovate, 4-7 cm. long, 2-35 cm. wide, entire, subcoriaceous, very obtuse to rounded with a minute awn at apex, slightly recurved on margin, the petioles 5-20 mm. long; flower heads axillary, the peduncles 3-6 mm. long, appressed-puberulent. May-July.

Honshu (Kinki and Chiigoku Distr.), Shikoku, Kyushu. Formosa and China.

The typical phase occurs in e. Africa to India, Malaysia, and Australia.