Prostrate to ascending perennial with weak glab. very slender stems and branches; branchlets filiform, occ. bearing a few hairs. Lvs and stipules forming rather close-set to rather distant whorls of 4, sts subimbricating, erect or ascending on filiform petioles c. 0·5 mm. long. Lamina ± 1·5-3-(5) × 1-3 mm., linear- to elliptic-lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, sts ± arcuate, tapering to acute or acuminate apex, sts apiculate, more often awned; margins us. ciliolate. Fls c. 2 mm. diam., axillary and terminal, solitary, often unisexual; ♂ us. on filiform peduncles 1-1·5 mm. long, ♀ sessile. Corolla-tube 0·5-1-(1·5) mm. long, lobes linear-oblong, obtuse, us. > tube. Style branched near apex, stigma capitate. Fr. up to 4 mm. diam., of 2 obscurely granulate cocci.

n = c. 44

2n = 88

Perennial, sometimes cushion-forming; stems slender, prostrate, decumbent or erect, angular, glabrous or slightly hairy, < 10-(12) cm long. Lvs and stipules in whorls of 4, sessile, rather close and often imbricate, sessile or subsessile; lamina 1.3-4-(5) × 0.5-1-(1.3) mm, narrowly lanceolate, linear-lanceolate, oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic, ± shining above, usually glabrous except for the often ciliolate margins and sometimes sparsely ciliolate midrib; apex usually mucronate to cuspidate. Fls axillary and terminal, solitary, generally unisexual. ♂ fls on pedicels to c. 3 mm long; ♀ fls subsessile or sessile; bracts 0. Corolla whitish or creamy yellow; tube 0.3-1-(1.5) mm long; limb (1.5)-2-3.5 mm diam.; lobes ± oblong, acute or subacute. Mericarps c. 2 mm diam., globose, glabrous, papillate.