Wiry, erect or diffusely branched herb up to 40 cm. tall, scabrid with stiff white appressed hairs; stems obscurely tetragonous. Lvs opp. on very short petioles, elliptic-lanceolate, from c. 8 mm. long with 2-3 incisures in cartilaginous margin to 15 mm. long with up to 6 sharp teeth on each side, hairs on both surfaces. Infl. racemose, bracts alt., lfy, lanceolate, almost entire, 2-3 mm. long. Fls erect, strongly pro-tandrous, c. 3 mm. long; sepals triangular, glab. with incomplete cartilaginous margin and basal triangle; petals hooded, with strong stiff hairs on keels; stamens 4 opp. sepals, staminodes 4 opp. petals; ovary 8-angled, minutely hairy on ribs, ovoid-globose; styles 4, very short, erect, stigmas with long multicellular hairs. Fr. pale, c. 1·25 mm. long, ovoid, constricted below sepals, 8 vertical ribs distinct and retaining some stiff hairs, faces between minutely papillose and ± obliquely rugose; pericarp hard, 1 loculus, us. 1-seeded.

2n = 48