Annual herb. Stems erect or ascending, sometimes creeping and rooting at nodes, sometimes pinkish. Leaves decussate, sessile, broadly ovate to broadly elliptic-oblong, rarely depressed orbicular, to 10 mm long, obtuse, sometimes apiculate, the base obtuse to cordate; margins cartilaginous. Bracts leaf-like, usually imbricate; bracteoles filamentous, to 1.5, rarely 2.5 mm long, usually less than half length of hypanthium. Hypanthium campanulate, c. 3 mm long; appendages absent. Sepals 4, triangular, c. 2 mm long. Petals absent. Stamens 2, inserted near base of hypanthium. Style very short. Capsule ellipsoidal, c. 1.5 mm long, opening by 2 valves.
Grows in damp areas near lagoons, river banks, swamps and ephemeral streams, in clay to sandy-loam soil.
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