Small glabrous, annual herb, dense and much-branched but not forming mats; stems 2-7-(10) cm long, decumbent to erect, rooting at lowest nodes, especially in moist conditions. Lvs connate at base, decussate, 3-6 × 0.4-1.5 mm, 0.4-0.9 mm thick, linear-lanceolate, flattened, convex above and beneath, green or greenish brown, without hydathodes; apex subacute or acute. Infl. of 1-several, elongated, much-branched cymes; bracts leaflike. Fls 4-merous, several to many, not star-like, 3-4 mm diam.; pedicels c. 1-2 mm long at anthesis, at least some 5-10-(15) mm long at fruiting. Calyx 1.5-3.5 mm long; lobes lanceolate to triangular-lanceolate. Petals united at base, c. 1.3-2 × 0.7-1 mm, broadly ovate, white, often tinged pink, obtuse, usually slightly < or ± = calyx, occasionally slightly > calyx. Stamens 0.8-1.1 mm long, > carpels at anthesis. Scales 0.15-0.2 mm long, widely T-shaped or very broadly wing-like, dark red. Follicles with 4-10 seeds, smooth. Seed 0.3-0.4 × c. 0.15 mm, oblong, strongly papillate. Fruiting infl. lacking plantlets.