Herbs, perennial, with thick taproot. Stems fascicled, erect, branching scattered proximally and crowded distally, (1.4–)2–3.5(–4) dm. Leaves alternate; stipules absent; petiole absent; blade linear, 2–4(–6) × 0.1–0.3(–0.4) cm, base acute, margins entire or remotely denticulate, teeth without prominent blackened tips, not incurved, apex usually acute, rarely acuminate; venation not prominent. Inflorescences sessile or rarely short-pedunculate, 6–-7 cm; staminate flowers crowded distally, 1 per node; pistillate flowers 3–5, crowded; bracts broadly ovate, to 1.5 mm, apex mucronulate or acuminate, glands patelliform, sessile, to 1.3 mm diam. Staminate flowers: calyx to 1 mm. Pistillate flowers: sepals 0; styles connate only at base, to 4 mm. Capsules oblate, 3 × 4 mm, deeply 3-lobed; lobes of gynobase 1.5–2 mm; columella persistent. Seeds brown, often mottled, ovoid, 2.3 × 1.3 mm, smooth; caruncle minute.
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