Branches quadrangular. Leaves sub-sessile, entire or somewhat denticulate. Flowers small, green or greenish-yellow, protogynous. Sepals ovate, imbricate, persistent. Petals thin and shorter than sepals in flower, succulent and enlarged in fruit, valvate, persistent. Stamens exserted, filaments filiform, anthers large oblong or ovate-oblong, dithecous, dehiscence longitudinal. Carpels and ovaries 5-10, superior, unilocular, laterally compressed, each with a single pendulous anatropous ovule with 2 integuments and dorsal raphe; styles 5-10, free arising from inner edge of ovary, filiform, puberulous, stigmatose on ventral surface. Achenes deep purple, blue or black. Seed compressed; embryo straight, radicle superior, cotyledons thick and fleshy.