Plants annual, with filiform tap-root. Stems erect, simple or sever-al from branched caudex, 5–20 cm, glandular-pubescent, nodes without long, wooly hairs; small axillary tufts of leaves absent. Leaves sessile, not marcescent, usually confined to proximal 1/2 of plant; mid-stem leaves with blade lanceolate to narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate, 5–30 × 2–8 mm, apex ± acute, usually rather sparsely, softly pubescent; proximal leaves sometimes forming loose rosette, blade ovate to obovate or spatulate, apex ± obtuse. Inflorescences compact to open, dichotomous, 3–30-flowered cymes, confined to distal portion of stem; bracts herbaceous, lanceolate, glandular-puberulent. Pedicels often becoming deflexed at base, 3–10(–12) mm, 0.5–1.25 times as long as sepals in flower, elongating to equaling capsule, glandular-pubescent. Flowers: sepals broadly lanceolate, 3–4.5 mm, apex subacute, glandular-puberulent to glabrate, hairs shorter than sepal tip, outer sepals herbaceous or with narrow margins, inner with broad margins; petals ovate-elliptic, 3–4 mm, equaling or shorter than sepals, apex 2-fid; stamens 10; styles 5. Capsules cylindric, curved, 6–12 mm, 2–2.25 times as long as sepals; teeth 10, erect, margins convolute. Seeds golden brown, 0.4–0.7 mm diam., tuberculate, especially around edge; testa not inflated. 2n = 34.
