Stout shrub, caespitose 15-60 cm high, woody stem 4-10 mm in diameter, branches usually with clusters of leaves, annual shoots arising from the base, simple or somtimes branched at the ends, whitish with short crisp tangled or long hairs. Leaves linear-subulate, 2-10 (-14) x 5-1 (-1.5) mm, often densely hairy, with clusters of reduced branchlets in the axils. Flowers perfect or female, axillary, in compact spiciform inflorescences; the subtending bracteoles as long as or exceeding the flowers; perianth 2-2.5 mm long, round-oval, densely hirsute-hairy, teeth 4, subequal, straight, half as long as the tube. Seed round, blackish-brown, flat, c. 1.5-2.0 mm diam., diffusely glandular.