Glaucescent annual, glabrous or somewhat puberulent, 10-25 cm. Stems many, ascending. Leaves 0.5-4 x 0.05-0.15 cm., linear, not grooved beneath; stipules minute, ovate-triangular. Panicles branched. Bracts minute, more or less scarious. Pedicels filiform, generally longer than calyx. Sepals 3-4 mm., ovate to oblong, white-margined, more or less glabrous. Petals somewhat shorter than sepals, white, ovate to lanceolate, somewhat acute or obtuse. Stamens 10, rarely 6-8. Styles 3. Capsule 4-5 (-6) mm., ovoid or subglobular, 3-valved. Seeds lenticular, black, with hyaline wing almost as broad as seed, obsoletely tuberculate or almost smooth. Fl. January-April (-June).