Herbs small. Roots conic, slender, short. Stems dichotomously branched at base, often violet, slender, 2--4 cm, sparsely pubescent or glabrous. Leaf blade rhomboid-elliptic or saccate, 1--3 mm, base narrowed, apex acute. Cymes many flowered; bracts similar to leaves but smaller. Pedicel often violet, 2--5 mm, hard, sparsely white pubescent or glabrous. Sepals 5, violet, ovate-lanceolate or ovate, ca. 2 mm, base broadened, margin narrowly membranous, ciliate, apex acute. Petals absent. Stamens 5. Ovary ovoid, equaling sepals. Styles 2, equaling ovary. Capsule ovoid, 4-lobed. Seeds pale brown, triangular-reniform. Fl. and fr. Jul--Sep.