Erect rounded annual herb, c. 20 cm high, monoecious. Leaves thin with a scaly sheen on both surfaces, broadly elliptic to rhombic; lamina 10–15 mm long, obtuse, margin sinuate dentate, base cuneate and passing into a petiole, c. 5 mm long. Male flowers in glomerules arranged in ± continuous spikes, c. 20 mm long, 5 mm diam., with scattered female flowers. Female flowers congested in distal axils. Fruiting bracteoles sessile to very shortly stipitate, ± rhomboid, c. 2.5 mm long and wide; lower half fused, campanulate, biconvex with prominent reticulate veins from which arise on either surface 5–12 slender spines, 0.5–1.5 mm long; distal half flat with central triangular lobe c. 1 mm long and, at its base, 2–4 small acicular lateral lobes. Seed circular; radicle lateral, erect.
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