Annual, glabrous, 15-40 cm. Stems indurated at base, procumbent to erect, more or less decussately and divaricately branched. Branches light green, rarely scarlet. Leaves about 1.5 mm., membranous at margins. Spikes cylindrical, slightly tapering at top. Flowers in groups (cymes) of 3, arranged in a floral cavity, the middle flower projecting above the lateral ones. Perianth of middle flower obovoid-rhomboidal. Stamen mostly 1. Seeds ovoid, with short protuberances look like hooked hairs. Fl. August-November.