Tall shrub or tree; spines 1–5 cm long; latex largely confined to fruits. Leaves ovate, 4–15 cm long, 2–6 cm wide; apex acuminate; petiole 15–30 mm long; stipules 1.5–2 mm long. Male inflorescence cylindrical or globose, 15–25 mm diam., pedicles 2–10 mm long; peduncle 10–20 mm long. Syncarp ± globose, 10–15 cm diam., surface irregular, yellow-green to green, exuding cream-coloured sap when cut. Seeds cream-coloured, deeply embedded in receptacle.
VVP, VRiv, MuF, GipP, OtP. Native to North America, cultivated as an ornamental. Only recorded once in Victoria near farmland by the Ovens River east of Everton. However, it has also been recorded just outside of Victoria in Albury.