General: Annual herb from a taproot stems prostrate to erect, several, branched, ridged, 10-100 cm tall/long.
Leaves: Basal leaves lacking; stem leaves alternate, widely linear to lanceolate-oblong, mostly bluish-green, the blades 1-3 cm long, slightly reduced upwards, the stalks short, jointed; branch leaves smaller than stem leaves; sheathing stipules brown, ragged, 3-6 mm long.
Flowers: Inflorescence of 1-3 axillary flowers; perianths 2-3 mm long, greenish with white or pink to red margins, 5-lobed more than 1/2 the distance to the base.
Fruits: Achenes, 3-angled, dark brown, obscurely lined lengthwise, pimply, 2.8-3.5 mm long, included to slightly exserted.
