Herbs, annual, erect, green to red, 0.5–3.5 dm, glaucous. Stems erect, green to red, usually branched from near base and throughout; branches ascending to widely spreading, slender. Leaves ascending or spreading; blade linear to linear-elliptic, widest at middle, adaxial surface flat, 5–30 × 0.5–15 mm, apex acute to apiculate. Glomes in flexuous-spreading, 1–6 cm compound spikes, 1–3-flowered; bracts subtending branches leaflike, not wider than leaves; bracts subtending flowers leaflike, widest at middle, shorter than leaves, 2–12 × 0.5–15 mm, not thin-margined basally. Flowers bisexual; perianth zygomorphic or irregular (1 or 3 segments usually larger), 1–3 mm diam.; perianth segments transversely winged proximally (continuously in disk or interrupted), rounded and keeled abaxially and/or horned or hooded distally; stigmas usually 2. Seeds dimorphic; lenticular, 1–1.5 mm diam., with seed coat black, shiny; or flat, 1–1.5 mm diam., with seed coat brown, dull.
