Annual with tufted, much-branched, ascending to prostrate, rarely decumbent shoots to 30(–46) cm long, rooting only near the base; roots thin, fibrous. Leaves spiral or distichous, sheaths 0.5–1 cm long, glabrous or with a line of pubescence along the fused edge, ciliate at the apex, blade sessile, linear to linear-lanceolate or elliptic, usually conduplicate, sometimes strongly recurved, (0.5–)1–5 x 0.4–0.6 cm, apex acute to acuminate, base ± cuneate, surfaces glabrous or pubescent. Spathes with peduncles 0.4–1.4 cm long, solitary, semilunate, not to slightly falcate, 0.9–2 x 0.45–1 cm, apex acute to rounded, base ± hastate, surfaces puberulous to glabrous, margins free, glabrous or ciliate; upper cincinnus present, 1-flowered or abortive, peduncle included (rarely shortly exserted), lower cincinnus 1–4-flowered. Flowers bisexual and male, c. 1 cm wide, petals pale buff, buff-orange or apricot pink, paired petals 5-5.5 x 5–6 mm, staminodes 3, equal. Capsules 5.5–7 x 3–4 mm, dorsal cell indehiscent, 0–1-seeded, ventral cells 1–2-seeded. Seeds of ventral cells transversely oblong-elliptic to broadly ovate, dorsiventrally compressed, 2.7–4.2 x 1.5–2 mm, testa medium to dark brown, foveate to foveate-reticulate with transversely elongate and ± round pits, each pit filled and bordered with paler farinaceous material, this material often also forming a fine reticulum or partial reticulum on the ridges.
