Annual small, much branched herbs or undershrubs, minutely hairy or smooth; leaves 2-7 cm long, narrowly ovate or linear-lanceolate, glabrous, acute at apex, serrate, hoary beneath; petioles very short; stipules linear-subulate, longer than petiole; flowers axillary, solitary or 2-together; peduncle thrice as long as the petiole, jointed near middle; calyx tube subglobose, sepals triangular, acute; petals obovate, twice as long as sepals; stamens numerous, staminal column usually shorter than petals; staminal tube dividing at the summit into numerous anther bearing filaments; carpels 5-9, rugose, awned; ovule one, pendulous in each cell, mericarps usually with 2, long awns at apex; seeds solitary, ovoid, pendulous.