Shrub, 20-30 (-75) cm high, greenish white, glaucous. Stem branched, branching, terete, apparently leafless or with very short vestigial adpressed acutish scales, whitish, with nodal tufts of hairs. Flowers in upper leaf axils, solitary, giving an appearance of a spike-like infloresecence. Perianth 1.5-2.5 mm long; wings of fruiting segments prominent, 3 larger c. 5 x 7 (-9) mm , yellowish, pink or green, spreading, the 2 smaller very minute or with rudimentary wings. Fruit ± succulent, c. 2.5-3.0 x 1.75-2.0 mm.

Fl. Per.: September.

Type: Abunde in collibus calcareis Persiae prope Ispahan, H.C. Haussknecht (G, JE).

Distribution: Egypt to Iran and Pakistan.