Shrubs, usually erect to suberect, rarely decumbent and rooting, usually unbranched, rarely sparsely branched distally, 1–13.5 dm. Stems: internodes 2–4-lined at first, then 2-winged. Leaf blades usually oblong to elliptic, rarely obovate to oblanceolate or triangular-ovate, 12–36 × 6–16 mm, base articulated, rounded to slightly cordate-amplexicaul, <without glandlike auricles>, margins plane to subrecurved, apex rounded to obtuse, midrib with to 3 pairs of branches. Inflorescences <± narrowly cylindric to narrowly pyramidal>, 1–3(–7)-flowered, branching dichasial, from to 4 proximal nodes. Flowers 20–30 mm diam.; sepals persistent, enclosing capsule, 4, unequal, outer broadly ovate to circular, 9–20 × 9–18 mm, <apex apiculate or obtuse to rounded>, inner narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, 7–14 × 2–4 mm, <apex acute to subacute>; petals 4, bright yellow, obovate, 11–18 mm; stamens persistent, 80–100; ovary 3(–4)-merous. Capsules narrowly ellipsoid-ovoid, 7–10 × 5–6.5 mm. Seeds not carinate, 0.8 mm; testa shallowly scalariform. 2n = 18.
Home