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Flowers pedicellate, 1–3 in the axils of chartaceous bracts arranged in terminal slender spiciform racemes 12–20 cm long; bracts 3–4 mm long, ± pubescent, truncate but produced dorsally into an acute setose apex, with a terminal fringe of 3–5 setae which may exceed the bract in length; bracteoles 2, hyaline, c. 2 mm long with 1–2 short setae at the apex; pedicels up to 4 mm long.
A slender trailing herb. It has many branches. The stems can be 1 m long. The leaves are alternate and simple. The sheath around the stem is cylinder shaped and 1 cm long and has red hairs at the end. The leaves are narrowly oval and 3-7 cm long by 2-20 mm wide. The flowers are in a spike like group 12-20 cm long. The flowers are tube shaped. The fruit is a softly hairy nut.
Leaves sessile, (30)50–60(70) × (2)3–8(10) mm, elliptic to linear-lanceolate, acute at the apex, often mucronate, narrowed and cuneate towards the base, the midrib prominent below, not or slightly sinuous on the margin, whitish and almost glabrous on both surfaces, or ± pubescent on the margins and midrib.
Hermaphrodite flowers heterostylous; perianth tubular, 4–5-lobed, tube c. 2 mm long, lobes 2–2.5 mm long and oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, pubescent outside, glabrous inside.
Ovary 2–2.5 mm long, ellipsoid; styles of long-styled flowers c. 4 mm long; styles of short-styled flowers shorter than the stamens, c. 1.5 mm long.
Nut c. 10 mm long, with 3 prickles 3–3.5 mm long, spreading horizontally or somewhat ascending from the middle, or from up to 1 mm above the middle.
Ocrea 0.4–1 cm long, truncate and fringed with red setae 6–9 mm long at the apex, thinly or thickly covered with whitish hairs.
Stems reddish-brown, woody, pubescent or subglabrous; shoots up to 35 cm long, pubescent.
Filaments 2.5(4) mm long, filiform; anthers 0.5–0.55 × 0.35–0.4 mm, oblong.
A creeping perennial plant with ascending or prostrate branches.
Male flowers not seen.
