An annual herb, branched from the base, 3–19 cm. tall, internodes covered with a woolly indumentum of more or less curled hairs. Leaves opposite or whorled; basal leaves (most often absent in the flowering specimens examined) spathulate, 1–1.5 cm. long, 3–4 mm. broad; cauline leaves linear, acute and then terminating in a hair-like appendage 1 mm. long and more or less caducous, 5–18 mm. long, 0.5–1 mm. broad, 1-nerved, with a woolly indumentum when young, becoming glabrous with age. Inflorescences terminal, of many-flowered cymes somewhat varying in density but single pedicelled flowers present between the main branches. Flowers silvery white to pink or reddish. Sepals lanceolate, acuminate, 2–2.25 mm. long, with white more or less curled hairs on the abaxial surface or glabrous. Petals about half the length of the sepals, slightly emarginate. Stamens very small, apparently often reduced to 2 or 3. Ovary with 3 ovules; style 0.25 mm. long or even less. Fig. 3.
