Annual herb, up to 60 cm high, covered with numerous thorns; yellow latex.  Leaves sessile, alternate, sinuate-pinnatifid, 8-20 cm long, with short and broad lobules and spiny margins; hermaphroditic flowers, solitary terminals; calyx with three thorny sepals; corolla with six yellow or white petals, 2-3 cm long; thorny capsule with 4-6 valves, 4-5 cm long.

Tree up to 10 m in height.  Leaves petiolate, coriaceous, oblong-elliptic to round-elliptic; tip round; base acute or obtuse; flowers in terminal panicles; petals purplish, linear-lanceolate; fruit (nut) reniform, gray, on large, thick hypocarp, somewhat spongy, red or yellow, juicy.