Branches rigid, often reddish. Leaves attenuate, elliptic ovate to obovate, 1.5-4.0 cm long, 0.7-2.6 cm broad, mucronate, fleshy; petiole up to 7 mm long. Cymes up to 10 cm long. Bracts lanceolate, membranous. Flowers c. 5 mm broad. Sepals ovate, 4 mm long, margin white. Petaloid staminodes c. 2.5 mm long, oblong ovate, adnate; filaments 1-2 mm long. Ovary c. 1.5 mm broad, globose; styles 5, as long as or longer than the ovary, linear, deciduous. Capsule papery, 5-6 mm broad, dehiscing by 5 valves; valves ovate. Seeds c. 1 1 mm long, compressed, rugose, shiny black, strophiolate.

Fl. Per.: Oct.-Jan.

Type: Arabia, Forsskal (holo. C, iso. BM).

Distribution: Africa, W. Asia, India and W. Pakistan.

Found in rocky or sandy places, in dry hot areas up to 1000 m alt. s.m.