Annual, fleshy branched herbs with flat to terete alternate leaves, somewhat woody below. Flowers hermaphrodite or pistillate, with scarious bracteoles, 5-merous, the hermaphrodite commonly occur during summer, the female during autumn; perianth segments fleshy, connivent below and developing a wing-like band. Stamens 5 with unappendaged anthers; stigmas 2-3 short, claviform. Fruits horizontal; seeds horizontal with spiral embryo and very scanty endosperm, those produced early with hard, black, glossy testa, those produced during autumn flat, tawny and almost dull.

A monotypic genus.

Lower Taxon

• Bienertia cycloptera Bunge ex Boiss.