Pyrenacantha malvifolia is an especially striking succulent, considered by many to be the the largest above ground caudex in the plant kingdom. At maturity, its massive, swollen caudex resembling a rock can reach up to 1,5 m across and is topped by vine-like stems clinging up into the general canopy. It is usually a dioecious species producing orange-red fruits on female plants, but also monoecious or rarely with hermaphrodite (bisexual) flowers which appear to set seed spontaneously in cultivation. Flowers are very small. It is a very variable taxon.