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Perennial herb with a woody twisted root 1 cm. thick and to 25 cm. or more long, producing several woody underground stems to 3 cm. long, which branch profusely at ground-level; branches densely rebranching, leafy and prostrate to ± 10(–25) cm. long, or more floriferous and erect to ± 5 cm. high, often tinged red.. Leaves lanceolate to ovate to 16 × 9 mm., base obliquely subcordate, apex minutely apiculate, the very narrowly cartilaginous margin entire or occasionally minutely toothed, under surface often tinged red; petiole to 2 mm. long; stipules linear or deeply divided into 2–4 linear teeth, ± 1 mm. long.. Cyathia solitary on peduncles 1–25 mm. long, terminal and pseudoaxillary, 2 × 2.5 mm., with broadly cup-shaped involucres; glands 4 in hermaphrodite cyathia, or sometimes 5 in cyathia which develop only ♂ flowers, transversely elliptic, ± 1 mm. wide, red with conspicuous white or pink, entire or obscurely 2–3-lobed appendages to 1.5 × 2 mm.; involucral lobes acutely triangular, 0.8 mm. long, margin ciliate.. Male flowers many, especially in unisexual cyathia: bracteoles deeply laciniate, apices ciliate; stamens 2 mm. long.. Female flower: ovary pedicellate; styles 1 mm. long, erect, bifid to halfway.. Capsule exserted on a reflexed pedicel 5.5 mm. long, deeply 3-lobed, 3 × 3 mm.. Seeds ovate-conical, 1.75 × 1.25 mm., reddish buff and deeply pitted.. Fig. 78/5, p. 422.
Cyathia terminal and pseudoaxillary, solitary on peduncles 1–25 mm long, 2 × 2.5 mm with broadly cup-shaped involucres; glands 4 in bisexual cyathia, or sometimes 5 in cyathia which develop only male flowers, c. 1 mm wide, transversely elliptic, red with conspicuous white or pink appendages to 1.5 × 2 mm, entire or shallowly 2–3-lobed; involucral lobes 0.8 mm long, acutely triangular, margin ciliate.
Perennial herb with a woody twisted root c. 1 cm thick and up to 25 cm long or more, producing several woody underground stems to 3 cm long branching profusely at ground level, whole plant glabrous or densely pilose; branches densely rebranching, leafy and prostrate up to 15(35) cm long or more, floriferous and erect to c. 5 cm high, often tinged red.
Leaves with a petiole to 2 mm long; stipules c. 1 mm long, linear or deeply divided into 2–4 linear teeth; lamina to 35 × 9 mm, lanceolate to ovate, minutely apiculate at the apex, obliquely subcordate at the base, entire or occasionally minutely toothed at the very narrow cartilaginous margin, lower surface often tinged red.
Male flowers many, especially in unisexual cyathia: bracteoles deeply laciniate, apices ciliate; stamens 2 mm long.
Capsule exserted on a reflexed pedicel 5.5 mm long, 3 × 3 mm, deeply 3-lobed.
Female flower: ovary pedicellate; styles 1 mm long, erect, bifid to halfway.
Seeds 1.75 × 1.25 mm, ovate-conical, deeply pitted, reddish-buff.
