Small shrub, usually forming clumps, 20-60 cm, sub-erect to prostrate, much branched, glabrous, yellowish green, branches monoliform with short thick, globular to short and oblong branches; internodes short, cylindrical to club-shaped ending in 2, c. 1 mm long, obovate, ± obtuse, scarious - margined leaves, connate at base, often subtending short, sterile globular, bud-like branches, with 4 rows of very short, rounded sessile, leaves. Bracts of flower clusters reniform sub-orbicular, shed after flowering. Spicate inflorescences short lateral and terminal, sessile, opposite, cone-like or globular to oblong; perianth c. 1.5 mm. Seed c. 0.5-1 mm, compressed, brown, smooth to minutely tuberculate.