Annual 10–30 cm high with decumbent to ascending branches, pubescent, the hairs simple on branches, glandular on leaves and perianth. Leaves elliptic, soon falling; lamina 1–2 cm long, obtuse to acuminate, with 2–4 pairs of prominent lobes; petiole shorter than lamina. Inflorescence an erect spike of crowded 7-flowered cymes, 5–25 cm long, 4 mm diam., sessile in branch axils. Terminal flower of cyme bisexual; tepals 3, hooded, c. 1 mm long, united in lower half into an indurated papillose tube; stamen 1; styles 2. Lateral flowers female, otherwise similar to but smaller than terminal flower. Fruiting perianth cartilaginous, firmly attached; tepal limbs with horizontal hyaline wings. Seed erect, broadly pear-shaped, c. 0.6 mm long; embryo vertical; radicle superior. Tepals and seed shed as unit.
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