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Leaves much shorter than the internodes,(l)3–18(23) x (0.2)0.4–1.3(1.7) mm., filiform or rarely narrowly linear, apex acute, not noticeably narrowed to the base, margins revolute, glabrous or with sparse minute papillae (especially younger leaves), caducous or reduced to small triangular vestiges to 2 mm. long on lower parts especially; stipular sheath 0.3–0.8(1) mm. long, absent on lower parts, otherwise produced into 2 filiform fimbriae nearer the leaves (0.2)0.4–0.8(1.3) mm. long.
Annual or perennial ± erect suffrutescent herbs or occasionally small dwarf shrubs 20–60 cm. tall with 1 to several ascending ± rigid, divaricate or pseudo-dichotomously branched stems from a woody base to 6 mm. in diam.; stems ± quadrangular, glabrous and often ± polished, basal woody parts often with a yellowish or brownish papery cortex (bark).
Inflorescences spreading, 1–2 shortly to distinctly pedicellate flowers at a node; peduncles 2–35 mm. long; pedicels (1)3–12(17) mm. long, becoming stiff and brittle in the fruiting stage, held at an angle of 25°–45° (90°) to each other and to the axis, glabrous or immature inflorescence branches scabrid.
Calyx tube (0.7)1–1.3(1.5) x (0.5)1–1.2(1.5) mm., hemispherical, glabrous or rarely minutely verrucose; lobes (0.3)0.5–1(1.3) mm. long and 0.2–0.6(1) mm. wide at the base, broadly triangular to ovate-triangular, glabrous, occasionally with short filiform elements on either side.
Capsules (1.4)1.7–3(3.3) x (1.9)2.4–4.2(4.8) mm., hemispherical-obconic, rarely subglobose, glabrous.
Anthers c. 1.3–2 mm. long, narrowly linear, often sterile connectives emergent; pollen 3-colporate.
Style 1–2 mm. long; stigma lobes c. 1–1.5 mm. long.
Seeds brownish, c. 0.4 mm. long, angular-subconic.
