Arthrocnemum Moq.

Only seemingly jointed and leafless herbs or undershrubs. Leaves decussate; those of each pair connate almost throughout their length in a tubular fleshy sheath, tightly and entirely enclosing the appertaining internode and widened at the apex into a rather shallow, faintly 2-lobed cup which embraces the shortly attenuate base of the next higher sheath. Flowers minute, spicate; spikes terminal, on often very short lateral branches, bracteate; bracts crowded, decussate, pairwise connate into a very faintly 2-lobed cup, embracing the base of the next higher cup; cups very fleshy at base, gradually thinner upwards, at the base on 2 opposite sides with 3 small collateral apertures for the protrusion of the adult anthers and stigmas (over the margin of the next lower cup); pairs of aperture-triads decussate. Flower usually 1 behind each aperture, ☿ or unisexual; bracteoles narrowly linear-spathulate, thinly membranous. Perianth thinly membranous, gamophyllous, at the apex or also deeper unilaterally cleft. Stamen 1 (sometimes 2?); filament short; anther thick. Ovary membranous; stigmas 2, subulate, rather long. Utricle (not seen in a ripe state) membranous or hard. Seed compressed; albumen well-developed, one-sided, mealy; embryo comma-shaped.