Nenax elsieae Puff

Low dwarf shrub, rounded to ± cylindrical, with thick woody root. Stems c. 80-200(-300) mm long, ascending to erect, much branched; branches usually single at nodes, ± erect. Leaves decussate, sometimes ± pseudoverticillate; blades 3-5 x 0.5-0.8(-1) mm, linear(-lanceolate), needle-like, semiterete to ± triangular in section, margins often papillate, midrib sometimes reddish brown below. Flowers usually single at nodes; corolla 4-merous, yellowish green, ('male'): tube c. 0.8-1 mm long, (broadly) funnel-shaped, lobes (1.7-)2-3 x 0.8-1 mm; anthers 1.7-2 mm long; rudimentary ovary usually crowned by 4 conspicuous calyx lobes ('female'): tube 0.2-0.5 mm long, lobes 0.3-0.8 x 0.2-0.3 mm; stigmas 3.4-4.4 mm long, (dark) purplish red; ovary 1-1.4 x 0.7-0.8 mm, hairy, with 4 conspicuous calyx lobes. Fruit dehiscent, supported by a minute carpophore, reddish brown; mericarps 2.7-3.5 x 1.8-2.2 mm, obovate, densely covered with (±) curled whitish hairs c. 0.2-0.5 mm long, with 2 glabrous, broad, rounded to ± trapezi-form calyx lobes c. 0.5-0.7 x 0.5-0.9 mm.