Slender erect or prostrate herb, often forming extensive mats, usually strigose; stems to c. 30 cm long. Leaves distichous; lamina asymmetrically ovate to elliptic or obovate, often slightly curved, (0.8–) 2–8 cm long, (0.4–) 1–2.5 cm wide, asymmetrical and strongly auriculate at base, dentate margin (the teeth often rounded), acute to shortly acuminate apex, discolorous, strigose, especially on veins on lowerside, dense with elongated cystoliths; lateral veins 4–6 pairs, not prominent; petiole to 2 mm long, often absent. Inflorescence unisexual, capitate, to c. 10 mm diam. [c. 5 mm diam., fide Harden (1990)], pedunculate. Male inflorescence: peduncle c. 5 cm long [c. 1–2 cm long, fide Ross (1983)]; flowers c. 1.5 mm long, tepals 3 or 4, stamens 3 or 4, pistillode minute. Female inflorescence: peduncle less than 1.5 cm long [0.5–1.5 cm long, fide Ross (1983)]; flowers c. 1.5 mm long, tepals 3, staminodes minute. Achenes ellipsoidal, 1–2 mm long, c. 1 mm wide.
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A small herb. It is smaller than Elatostema reticulatum. It grows 10-30 cm high and spreads 10-20 cm wide. It forms weak slender clumps. The stems are 10-30 cm long. They root at the base. The leaves are 2-5 cm long and 0.5-2.5 cm wide. They are oblong or sword shaped and without a stalk. They are thin textured and dark green. There are teeth along the leaf edge. The male flower heads are 0.4-0.6 cm across and with a prominent stalk. The female flower heads are 0.1-0.2 cm across and with a prominent stalk. The flowers are about 0.1 cm across.
Grows on coastal mountains in damp and shady sites in rainforest, where it often forms continuous mats, sometimes as lithophytes; also beside creeks (often on boulders) and in seepages.
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It grows in moist, shady locations in rainforests. It responds to adequate fertiliser. It grows in warm temperate locations.
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