Glabrous perennial herb with a thick tuberous rootstock to ± 12 × 4 cm. giving rise to several woody underground stems to ± 5 cm. long, which branch at ground-level; branches prostrate and leafy to 15 cm. long, or occasionally more floriferous and erect to 5 cm. high.. Leaves broadly ovate to subcircular, to 17 × 13 mm., base rounded and obscurely oblique, apex rounded, margin entire, undersurface often tinged red; petiole to 1 mm. long; stipules broadly triangular to 0.8 × 0.6 mm., margin deeply toothed, sometimes joined at the base.. Cyathia solitary on peduncles to 4 mm. long, terminal and pseudoaxillary, 2 × 2 mm., with cup-shaped involucres; glands 4, transversely elliptic to 1 mm. wide, red with white entire or obscurely 2–3-lobed appendages to 0.75 × 1.5 mm.; involucral lobes triangular, 0.4 mm. long, shortly ciliate.. Male flowers: bracteoles laciniate with ciliate apices; stamens 2 mm. long.. Female flower: ovary pedicellate; styles 0.75 mm. long, suberect, bifid to halfway, with thickened apices.. Capsule exserted on a reflexed pedicel 5 mm. long, deeply 3-lobed, 2.25 × 2.25 mm.. Seeds oblong-conical, 1.5 × 0.8 mm., pinkish buff and shallowly pitted.. Fig. 78/4, p. 422.
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