Perennial polygamo-dioec. prostrate to sublianoid subshrub with slender, hard, woody, much and openly branched main stems up to 6 dm. long; branchlets very slender, ± mealy pubescent, sulcate, becoming glab. Lvs alt. or occ. subopp., distant, on mealy filiform petioles up to 5 mm. long; lamina thin, ovate to lanceolate, subhastate to truncate at base, 5-10-(25) × 3-7-(10) mm., acute; margins entire. Fls minute in small clusters in axillary and terminal simple or occ. branched spikes. Per. pale or flushed with red, segs 5, ovate, obtuse;♂ with us. 3 stamens; ♀ with 1-2 staminodes (some pollen occ. produced). Ovary with 2 styles; fr. globose, succulent, bright red, ± 3-4 mm. diam.; seeds black, pitted.

2n = 36

Herb, often slightly woody towards base, ± grey-farinose at least when young. Stems prostrate and creeping, or tending to scramble on other vegetation, to c. 70 cm or more long, eventually becoming glabrous. Branchlets slender, sulcate. Lvs alternate or opposite; petiole 1-7 mm long, slender. Lamina 2-13-(15) × 1.5-11-(13) mm (occasionally more in shaded situations), usually hastate, subhastate, or ovate, less often lanceolate, rather thin, densely grey-farinose when young, often becoming red, entire except sometimes for basal lobe; base usually hastate or sagittate and truncate or subcordate; apex obtuse or subacute, sometimes mucronulate. Fls in small terminal or axillary glomerules, these sometimes forming spike-like infls. Perianth segments c. 0.5 mm long, accrescent, broadly ovate, becoming crimson and succulent at fruiting; keel green or reddish. Stamens (2)-3. Fr. 3-5 mm diam., globular; pericarp succulent, crimson. Seed 1-1.5 mm diam., circular, flattened, shining black, reticulate.