Annual or perennial, glabrous, succulent herb; stem erect, furrowed, not jointed; leaves usually alternate, subentire, ovate to oblong-ovate, lower often trowel shaped base decurrent on the petiole, margins waved, upper short, incurved; flowers solitary or 2-3 together, sometimes in axillary sessile, distant with narrow acute bracts; perianth urceolate, 5- lobed, sepaloid, margins membranous, cohering in fruits by their enlarged, hardend bases; stamens-5, disc fleshy, annular; ovary sunk in the disc, style short, stigmas 2-4, subulate; urticle indehiscent, adnate to the disc; seed horizontal, albuminous.