tomentose, with simple and stellate pubescence; stems diffuse, branching; leaves whorled, unequally obovate, tapering into a petiole; flowers whorled, the pedicels shorter than the calyx; stamens 3–12. Annual, branched from the base. Stems 1/2–1 foot long, somewhat woody at the base, terete, as thick as a crow's quill. Leaves obovate, obtuse or shortly acute, the radical rosulate, fugacious, on longish petioles, cauline very unequal, sub-undulate at the margin, ribbed and veined, lamina 3–8 lines long, narrowed into a petiole half that length. Flowers 2–8, umbellate, axillary. Sepals oblongo-lanceolate, 2–2 1/2 lines long, inflexed at point, mucronulate. Petals often none. Capsule shorter than the calyx. Seeds very minute, brownish, muricato-tuberculate.
