Herbs annual, 20-50 cm tall. Stem erect, branched from base; branches alternate, spreading, yellow-green, white or purple-red striate, glabrous. Leaves alternate, horizontally or slightly obliquely spreading, semiterete, 2-5 cm × 2-3 mm, base expanded, slightly decurrent, margin membranous at base, apex mucronate. Inflorescence terminal, spicate; bracts linear, longer than bractlets, apex mucronate; bractlets narrowly ovate, longer than perianth, thickened in fruit and tightly appressed to perianth, margin membranous at base, apex mucronate. Perianth segments ovate-oblong, membranous, hardened and leathery in fruit, abaxially with a pectinate process on distal middle part, glabrous; portion of segment above process inflexed, with others forming a truncate surface, apex connivent with others into a short cone, acute, membranous. Style very short; stigmas filiform, 3-4 × as long as style. Utricle obovoid, 2-2.5 in diam. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.
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An annual herb. It grows 20-50 cm tall. The stems are erect and branched from the base. The branches are spreading and yellow-green. The leaves are alternate and spreading. They are 2-5 cm long by 2-3 mm wide.