Undershrubs up to 15 cm. tall; stems succulent, erect, unbranched or branched, up to 8 mm. thick, puberulous or glabrous, internodes short, periderm of older parts flaking off, scars of leaves, stipules and inflorescences conspicuous and prominent.. Leaves in spirals, subrosulate; lamina chartaceous to papyraceous when dry, oblong to narrowly lanceolate or elliptic, 3.5–14 × 0.3–2 cm., apex acute, base attenuate, margin ± undulate and crenate to dentate or subentire; both surfaces minutely puberulous; lateral veins 5–15 pairs; petiole 0.1–2.5 cm. long, ± 1 mm. thick; stipules subulate, 1–4 mm. long, subpersistent or caducous.. Inflorescences solitary; peduncle 1–3 cm. long, ± 1 mm. thick.. Receptacle discoid, 0.5–1 cm. in diameter; flowering face substellate, margin almost lacking; appendages in 2 rows, the inner (marginal) row several, tooth-like, up to 1 mm. long, the outer (submarginal) row 5–10, band shaped to filiform, 2–12 mm. long.. Staminate flowers ± spaced; perianth-lobes 2; stamens 2.. Pistillate flowers numerous; perianth shortly tubular; stigma 1.. Endocarp-body tetrahedral, ±1.5 mm. in diameter, tuberculate.
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A low succulent herb. The stems are swollen. They are 45 cm long. The leaves are alternate and crowded at the top of the stem in a ring. They are 2-18 cm long by 1-2.5 cm wide. The edges are divided and curl under. There are several male flowers around one female flower. They are sunk into a flat disk like receptacle. The fruit explodes.
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