Annuals , 1-50 cm. Stems 1, ± erect , or 2-5[-10], ascend
ing to erect [prostrate ]. Leaves cauline; mostly alternate
[opposite]; blades narrowly oblanceolate to elliptic [spatul
ate ]. Heads usually in glomerules of 2-5 in racemiform to p
aniculiform or distally ± dichasiform [axillary ] arrays,
sometimes borne singly. Involucres inconspicuous. Phyllarie
s 4-6, ± equal unlike paleae, scarious , hyaline . Rece
ptacles depressed-spheric or obovoid heights 0.5-1.8 times
diams. , glabrous . Pistillate paleae falling, erect to incu
rved ; bodies with 5+ nerves nerves ± parallel, obscure
, obovoid, saccate most of lengths trigonously [evenly] co
mpressed , galeate , abaxially rounded [corniculate-crested]
, each enclosing a floret ; wings ± erect and lateral
or inflexed and subapical . Staminate paleae 0 or 1-3, fa
lling, erect in fruit not enlarged , shorter than pistillat
e paleae; bodies linear-lanceolate to oblanceolate. Pistilla
te florets 4-12. Functionally staminate florets 2-5; corolla
lobes 4-5, ± equal. Bisexual florets 0. Cypselae brown,
monomorphic : ± trigonously [evenly] compressed, ± obo
void, curved , gibbous abaxially, faces glabrous, smooth , s
hiny, corolla scars ± lateral; pappi: pistillate 0, stami
nate 0 or of 1-5 bristles hidden in heads . x = 14.