stems suffruticose, diffuse, sarmentose, glabrous; branches subfiliform, appressed-villous towards the apex; leaves opposite, linear-subulate, rather connate; flowers 3 or ternately-panicled on the top of the branches, with 2 longer leafy bracts. Stems many from the root, 1/2–1 foot, often rooting. Branches alternate or opposite. Leaves subfiliform and flat above, acute, 3/4–1 inch long. Flowers rarely solitary or geminate, usually ternate or ternately-compound, the intermediate sessile. Calyx stellate, appressed-villous on the outside, glabrous and white inside, ovate-anceolate, or lanceolate, 3–4 lines long. Stamens more than 20, twice shorter than the calyx, equalling the 5 filiform styles. Capsule shorter than the calyx, obtusely 5-angled, depressed-globose, many seeded. Var. γ is usually more robust and erect, stem more woody and rarely sarmentose, with glabrous or pilose leaves, but is united by var. β. with the typical form.
