Annual herb, erect, 10-19 cm tall, glabrous. Leaves obovate, obtuse, attenuate at the base, margin prominently cartilaginous, 5-13 mm long. 2-7 mm broad. Spikes axillary, in every axil, 4-9 mm long. Bracts leaf-like. Bracteoles subulate. Flowers 4-merous, 2-3 mm long. Hypanthium tubular-campanulate, membranous in fruit. Sepals 0.5-1 mm long, 1 mm broad, very acute. Petals minute, shorter than sepals. Ovary oblong. Capsule ± equalling the hypanthium, much shorter than the calyx. Seeds longer than broad.

Fl. Per.: August.

Type: Described from India.

Distribution: Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Malaya, China and Japan.

Rice fields. 300-1800 m alt. Not common.