Euonymus aculeolus C. Y. Cheng ex J. S. Ma

This species is very unusual because it is the only dwarf (less than 30 cm tall) in the genus.

Dwarf shrubs, 20-30 cm tall; young branches and twigs sturdy, 4-angled, green-brown. Leaf blade sessile, leathery, ovate, 3-5 × 1-1.5 cm, base truncate, margin crenulate, apex acute or acuminate; lateral veins 5 or 6 pairs, netting before reaching margin. Flowers 4-merous (not seen). Capsule typically 1, occasionally 2 or 3 in cluster, axillary, red when fresh, yellow-brown when dry, nearly globose, 6-8 mm in diam., 4-grooved, with very small and slender, needle or threadlike prickles. Seeds ovoid, black; aril bright red. Fl. unknown, fr. Nov.

● Mountain slopes. Yunnan.