Subshrub, up to 1 m with woody base, green to greyish. Stems procumbent or ascending, profusely branched. Leaves small, 2-4 x 0.6-1 cm., oblong to lanceolate, entire or sinuate-dentate. Inflorescence leafy. Valves rhombic, 2-5 x 2-4 mm., connate in lower half, reddish or mauve coloured but not juicy, sclerified, prominently 3-nerved, entire or toothed, mostly without tubercles. Seeds 1-2 mm. in diam., brown. Fl. July-December.