Stock woody; stems few to many, decumbent at very base, then erect, up to 25 cm; long, simple or sparingly branched; branchlets purplish to pale green, with 2-4 pubescent lines. Lvs densely crowded, ascending, opp. except sts alt. in floral region, on petioles up to 2 mm. long. Lamina narrow-oblong to narrow oblong-ovate, 10-20 × 2-4 mm., glab. or nearly so, ± coriac., dull green; coarsely denticulate. Fls ∞ in upper axils, 8-9 mm. diam.; calyx-lobes lanceolate, < petals; petals white. Capsules glab., stout, pubescent, narrowed to apex, slightly curved, 12-20 mm. long, almost hidden by lvs; peduncles obsolete or up to 2 mm. long. Seeds papillose.

2n = 36

Herb with very deep taproot. Stems 4-18 cm tall, branched at base, and sometimes also above, purplish black or green, with dense strigillose hairs in lines running down from margins of petioles. Lamina of lf narrowly oblanceolate or oblanceolate, 6-15 × 2-5 mm. Floral tube 0.7-1.6 mm deep, glabrous. Petals white, 4.2-8 × 2.2-3.5 mm. Capsules 1-2.4 cm long, glabrous, subsessile.