Plants 0.5–7 cm. Stems 0 or 1–10, erect to prostrate; branches usually 0, sometimes proximal and/or distal. Leaves basal or cauline, sessile or petiolate, distal congested, larger than proximal (if present), largest 4–22(–32) × 0.5–4(–5) mm; petioles: lengths 0–1.5 times blade lengths, bases scarcely thickened, pliant to somewhat cartilaginous; capitular leaves 6–12 (rarely more) per glomerule or head, whorled, ± erect or distally spreading, unlike pistillate paleae. Heads terminal, borne singly or, rarely, in dense glomerules (3–7 mm diam.) of 2–8 mixed with leaves and, rarely, some borne singly in axils (then smaller), campanulate, 2–4 × 1.5–3.5 mm, heights 1–1.5 times diams. Receptacles distinct, 0.9–1.9 × 0.8–1.7 mm. Pistillate paleae in 2–5 series, spirally ranked, broadly spatulate, 1–3 mm. Staminate paleae surpassing pistillate, 1.6–3.2 mm, lengths 0.6–0.8 times head heights; apices spreading. Functionally staminate florets 2–5(–12); corollas 0.6–1 mm. Cypselae 0.6–1.6 mm.
