Annual herb, erect, to 25 cm high, subsucculent, glabrous. Leaves opposite, ± sessile; lamina linear-terete, c. 1.5 (–3) cm long. Flowers usually solitary, sometimes some in dichasia, predominantly 4-or 5-merous, rarely some 6-merous; peduncle 1–1.5 cm long; bracteoles to 2 mm long, to 2 mm below flower. Hypanthium campanulate, to 3 mm deep, markedly 8-or 10-ribbed with ribs maroon pigmented and white-membranous between, plicate in bud; appendages blunt. Sepals usually 4, rarely 5 or 6, shallowly triangular, to 0.75 mm long. Petals 4, rarely 5 or 6, ovate, to 4 mm long, mauve. Stamens equal to (rarely some double) the number of sepals, inserted basally; anthers exserted. Capsule globose, to 4 mm diam.; dehiscence irregular.
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