Herbs annual, 20-40 cm tall. Stem branched from base, densely long hispid; basal branches subopposite, decumbent, elongate, upper branches alternate, all branches light purple-red or white-ribbed. Leaves sessile, terete, 1.5-4 cm × ca. 1 mm, hispid, apex spinose mucronate. Inflorescence spikelike; flowers solitary; bracts spreading, abaxially white veined, base expanded, margin ciliate near base. Perianth (including wings) ca. 5 mm in diam. in fruit; segments membranous, leathery in fruit, abaxially winged, glabrous; portion of segment above wing connivent with others into a cone, apex acute, membranous; wings with black-brown veins, margin slightly crenate. Anthers ca. 0.8 mm, without an appendage. Stigmas filiform, 3-4 × as long as style. Seed horizontal. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.
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