Non-dioecious (hermaphrodite, hermaphrodite + female, female, occasionally male or hermaphrodite + male) subshrub with an often massive, ± rosette-like woody base. Stems numerous, mostly unbranched, (5)8–20(30) cm. long, papillate to very shortly hairy and mostly ± densely leafy above. Leaves decussate, pseudo-verticillate; blades (4)6–12(22) x (0.5)0.8–1.5(2) mm., linear, linear-(ob-)lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, ± membranous; flat to somewhat revolute margins mostly papillate, midrib below often reddish-brown and prominent; petioles subobsolete; stipular sheath with 1 (rarely 3) small seta(e). Flowers subsessile, in clusters of 6–2 (occasionally more) at nodes; corolla 4-merous, greenish to yellowish, often papillate near tip. Hermaphrodite, male: tube (0.5)0.7–1.4(1.7) mm. long, narrowly funnel-shaped, lobes 1.2–1.9(2.5) x 0.3–0.7 mm.; anthers 1–1.8(2) mm. long; hermaphrodite: stigmas often shorter than in female; ovary 0.5–0.9 x 0.3–0.8 mm., with 4 ± indistinct calyx lobes. Female: tube 0.2–0.5 mm. long, lobes 0.2–0.5 x 0.1–0.2 mm.; style 0–0.5 mm. long; stigmas 2.4–9.8 mm. long; ovary as in hermaphrodite. Fruit reddish-brown, shiny; mericarps (1.5)1.8–2.4 x 1–1.5 mm., elliptic to obovate, mostly ± glabrous, often with 2 ± broadly triangular to rounded calyx lobes 0.1–0.3 x 0.3–0.4 mm.