Plants annual; roots fibrous. Stems prostrate to suberect, often pinkish, succulent; trichomes conspicuous at nodes and in inflorescence; branches to 3-20(-25) cm. Leaf blades linear to oblong-linear, terete to hemis-pheric, 2-14(-20) × 0.4-2(-3) mm, apex obtuse to acute; involucrelike leaves 4-8. Flowers 3-8 mm diam.; petals yellow, obovate, 2-4 × 1-2.5 mm; stamens 4-18; stigmas 3-4(-5). Capsules ovoid, 1.1-2 mm diam. Seeds gray or leaden, 0.3-0.5(-0.6) mm diam.; lateral surfaces with densely arranged, flattened, stellate cells, tubercles absent; usually with a smooth, occasionally papillose, spine abaxially. 2n = 18.
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