Perennial closely branched, us. yellowish, herb forming low but not very tight mat several cm. across, attached by central root system. Lvs evenly distributed, 2.5-10 × 0·5 mm., subulate, not acuminate, barely mucronate, often minutely serrate on lower margins and sts on keel. Pair of fls sessile on top of common axillary peduncle; each fl. subtended by 2 membr. bracts. Sepals 4, acute; stamen 1 on very short ring, filament < sepal length. Fr. c. 2·3 × 0.9 mm. overall, broadest about middle, persistent sepals c. ⅓ length of perig. cup; peduncles elongating (up to 10 mm.) to overtop lvs as fr. ripens and retaining after fr. falls the 4 cruciate membr. bracts, the outer and larger pair up to 2 mm. across.

2n = 48

Mat or cushion-forming perennial; stems decumbent, to 5 cm tall, glabrous; internodes 1-3 mm long. Lvs paired, ± spreading, linear, scabrid on margins and keel, shortly acicular, (2)-5-8 × 0.5 mm. Peduncles glabrous, short at flowering, elongating at fruiting to 2-8 mm. Bracts in 2 pairs, deltoid, scarious, keeled, up to 1 mm long. Fls paired. Sepals 4, narrow-triangular, not scarious, at fruiting connivent and c. 1/2 length of the smooth perigynous zone; whole fr. 1.5-2 mm long. Stamen 1, included in calyx.