Perennial shrub or under shrub, much branched, decumbent, woody; lateral branches spreading along the ground; leaves opposite, subsessile, linear, lanceolate or oblong; flowers small, bisexual, white, pink or reddish purple, in the axils of new leaves; calyx tube short, persistent, sepals 4-6, united at the base; petals 4-6, free, elliptic-ovate, subequal, inserted near the top of calyx tube in many colours; stamens usually twice as many as the petals, inserted on the calyx tube; ovary 2-6 celled, usually with 5-6 carpels, syncarpous, ovules usually with a gland at its base, many, placenta axile; fruit dehiscent capsules, globose to oblong; seeds many, flattened, brown.