Annual. Stems erect, with glandular hairs in lower parts of middle internodes, (10)-15-40 cm tall. Basal lvs tufted, linear-oblanceolate, subacute to acute, 10-50 × 2-5 mm; margins scabrid; base sheathing; sheaths 2-3× as long as broad. Cauline lvs erect, linear, acute, glabrous or scabrid on margins; uppermost pairs becoming mucronate, scarious. Fls (1)-3-6, enclosed in an epicalyx of papery scarious mucronate to acute scales. Pedicels 2-4 mm long. Calyx 9-13 mm long; teeth short, obtuse. Petals pink to purple, clawed, emarginate to 2-fid. Capsule < calyx. Seeds ovoid, curved around the hilum, black, coarsely and sharply warty, 0.9-1.2 mm long.