Erect annual herb, up to 20 cm. high. Stem thick, almost woody at the base, profusely branched from the base to the apex, the branches 4-gonous or 4-winged, densely leafy; internodes up to 4 mm. long, shorter towards the apex. Leaves of the main stem 4–12 × 2–5 mm., opposite, ovate-lanceolate, subacute at the apex, rounded at the base, those of the branches much smaller, c. 3 × 2 mm., ovate-oblong, canaliculate on the upper face and ending in a recurved point, contracted at the base into a short petiole, penninerved. Flowers 3-merous, axillary, solitary, sessile, distributed throughout the plant; bracteoles 2, as long as the calyx (c. 1·5 mm.), linear, scarious. Calyx 1·5 × 1 mm., campanulate, scarious; tube c. 1 mm. long; appendages 3, c. 0·75 mm. long, curved; lobes c. 1 mm. broad and c. 0·5 mm. long. Petals 3, c. 0·5 × 0–25 mm., persistent, elliptic, slightly apiculate. Stamens 3, included, inserted slightly below the middle of the calyx-tube. Ovary c. 0·75 mm. in diameter, stipitate, globose, 3-locular; style c. 0·25 mm. long. Capsule c. 1·5 mm. long, subglobose, 3-valved. Seeds c. 0· 5 mm. long, whitish.
