Herbs, annual or perennial, with taproot. Stems prostrate to ascending, 15–50 cm, strigose to short-sericeous when young, glabrate with age. Leaves opposite; stipules distinct (lower side) or connate (upper side), usually inconspicuous, filiform to triangular-subulate, 0.5–1 mm, strigose to short-sericeous; petiole 1–2 mm, strigose to short-sericeous; blade usually ovate to oblong, rarely linear or spatulate, 2–37 × 1–10 mm, base oblique to subsymmetric, cuneate to slightly rounded or cordate, margins entire, apex acute, adaxial surface sometimes with reddish blotch in center, both surfaces strigose, short-sericeous, or tomentose to glabrate; venation palmate at base, pinnate distally, only midvein conspicuous. Cyathia solitary at distal nodes; peduncle 0.5–1.5 mm. Involucre campanulate, 1.5–2 × 1.2–1.6 mm, closely strigose to short-sericeous to glabrate; glands 4, usually dark purple, rarely green-brown, oblong, 0.5 × 0.7–1.3 mm; appendages absent or white, ± unequal, irregular or rudimentary, 0.6–1 × 1–1.5 mm, distal margin entire or crenately lobed. Staminate flowers 22–25. Pistillate flowers: ovary densely strigose to short-sericeous; styles slender, 1–1.2 mm, 2-fid nearly entire length. Capsules broadly ovoid, 2 mm diam., strigose to short-sericeous; columella (1.4–)1.8–2 mm. Seeds white, slender ovoid, 3-angled to almost round in cross section, 1.2–1.6 × 0.6–0.7 mm, with 4–5 rounded, transverse ridges encircling seed.

Flowering and fruiting year-round. Desert scrub, thorn scrub, rocks and sandy washes; 0–1200 m; Ariz., Calif.; Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, Sonora).