Dwarf shrubs or herbs, stems ± thickly pubescent and leaves alternate or crowded, rigid, linear, subulate to acicular, pubescent to glabrous. Flowers hermaphrodite or female, without bracteoles, solitary, axillary, often forming short, pseudo-spikes; perianth segments 4 (-5), with the 2 lateral segments larger, united from base to above the middle, hairy or glabrous towards the base, membranous with green apex. Stamens 4 (-5), usually ± exserted, seed vertical with a hook-shaped to nearly circular embryo.