Much-branched, densely bushy annual, to c. 1 m tall; shoots erect, villous when young. Lvs alternate, 1.5-7 × 0.5-4 mm, narrow-linear or linear, hairy below, almost glabrous above, sometimes reddish purple; midrib raised below, conspicuously long-ciliate; base attenuate; apex subacute or acute. Fls solitary to few in upper lf axils, 1-1.5 mm long, green; axis elongating to form short spikes. Perianth segments ovate, shortly ribbed; apex broad-triangular and incurved. Filaments glabrous; anthers pink. Stigmas long-filiform, hairy, almost = stamens. Pericarp membranous. Seeds 1.5-2 mm diam., dark.