Strongly succulent short-lived herb with a long root; stems erect, up to 10 cm high, branching above the base, flushed red, 3–4 mm thick near base.. Leaves alternate, fleshy, 6–8 mm long, 1.3–2 mm wide, acute; axillary hairs straight, stiff, in short dense white tufts ± 1 mm long.. Flowers in terminal clusters of about 3–5, encircled by involucral leaves and short hairs shorter than the capsule bases.. Sepals about 5 mm long, ovate, acute, the inner with broad thin margins; petals 5, very thin, 7 mm long, obovate-oblong, truncate and apiculate; stamens 40 or more; stigma 4-branched.. Capsule dehiscing near the middle, base deeply infundibuliform, lid 2.4 mm high, slightly wider than high; seeds 0.45 mm long, iridescent silvery-grey, the testa-cells stellate, domed, tuberculate round the periphery.
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