Mollugo oppositifolia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 89. 1753; M. spergula Linnaeus.

Herbs 10-40 cm, much branched, pilose or subglabrous. Leaves in pseudowhorls of 3-6 or opposite; leaf blade spatulate-oblanceolate or elliptic, 1-2.5 cm × 3-6 mm, base attenuate, margin with sparse teeth, apex obtuse or acute. Pedicel 5-14(-18) mm, slender. Flowers usually 2-7 in a cyme. Tepals greenish white, yellowish, or milky-colored, oblong, 3-4 mm, margin membranous, 3-veined. Stamens 3-5. Styles 3(or 4). Capsule ellipsoid, slightly shorter than persistent tepals, 3- or 4-valved. Seeds chestnut-brown, subreniform, granulose; strophiole ca. 1/5 as long as seed, claviform. Fl. and fr. almost year-round. 2n = 36.

Riversides, open sands of seashores, rice fields;; low elevations. Hainan, S Taiwan [tropical Africa and Asia, N Australia].