Short-lived perennial forming small clumps, branching mainly above base; stems ± woody at base, with dark bark, to 10 cm long, usually less, to 4 mm thick, occasionally rooting adventitiously from lowermost nodes; internodes shorter than nodal scales at least at base of stem, upper internodes sometimes longer. Leaves opposite, ovate-lanceolate, very fleshy, 3–4(–8) mm long, nodal scales uniformly lanceolate, 3.5–8 mm long, tip acuminate, often hair-like, often very pale brown when young but soon becoming silvery white, often hiding leaves and internodes. Involucral leaves 4, similar to stem leaves. Flowers usually solitary, sessile. Sepals 2.5–4 x 1.5–2.7 mm, tip hooded. Petals 4, yellow, to 5.5 mm long. Stamens 4–8(–12). Stigma 4-lobed. Capsule subglobose, splitting very near base; operculum rounded, 1.5–2 mm diam., pale straw coloured, thin but ± opaque. Seeds 0.45–0.55 mm long, light brown with slight iridescent sheen; testa cells mostly with distinct central papilla, rarely ± uniformly domed, margins not discernable.
