Halimocnemis gamocarpa Moq., Chenopod. Monogr. 155. 1840; Halocharis gamocarpa (Moq.) Moq. in DC., Prodr. 13, 2: 201. 1849; Halanthium gamocarpum (Moq.) Volkens in Engler & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3, 1a: 89. 1893; Gamanthus kelifii Korov. in Nov. Syst. Horti Petrop. 5: 176. 1924.

Annual, 10-25 cm high and almost as wide, glabrescent-canescent, greyish-green. Stem prostrate or ascending, divaricately branched, with short lateral branches. Leaves 15-30 ´ 1-1.5 (-3.0) mm linear-filiform, semi-amplexicaul, with an apical mucro, spreading-recurved. Leaves bearing axillary flowers always opposite, in fruit becoming united at base and stony indurated. Flowers solitary; bracts as long as the perianth; perianth 5-lobed, c. 5-7 mm; both unchanged in fruit. Anthers 2.3 mm linear, introrse; vesicle yellow or yellowish white, 1.5-2.0 mm, stipitate. Fruiting disseminule globose, almost enclosing the bracts and perianth. Seeds up to 2 mm.

Fl. Per.: May-June.

Type: Persia, C.P. Belanger 608 (LE).

Distribution: Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and C. Asia.