Paronychia argentea Lam.

Herb, perennial, with woody tap root, pubescent. Stems prostrate, much-branched, often matted, 3–50 cm long; internodes glabrous to sparsely puberulent. Leaves sessile, oblong to broadly oblanceolate, glabrous, 4–15 (–20) mm long, 1.5–5 mm wide; stipules acuminate, white, to ¾ length of leaves. Inflorescence of large clusters, more than 8 mm diam.; bracts acute, silvery-translucent, 4–8 mm long, densely clustered and concealing flowers. Flowers shortly pubescent, c. 2 mm long; pedicels very short or absent. Calyx usually purplish, sparsely hispid; hairs straight. Sepals 1.5–2.5 mm long, oblong, strongly 3-nerved, with broad, membranous margin and erect, ± smooth awn 0.3–0.7 mm long. Petals c. 0.5 mm long. Styles 2. Achene c. 1 mm long, obovoid-globose. Seeds 0.8–1.2 mm diam., pale to dark brown, ± glossy, ± smooth.

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in the Sahara.

An infusion of the flowers is used as a tea. The leaves are cooked or eaten raw. They are also used for tea.

Can be grown by seedlings.