Plant: perennial; stem wavy-hairy, becoming glabrous Leaves: at a node often unequal; simple, opposite; petioles 3-13 mm, narrowly winged, clasping; blades 5-18 mm wide, ± diamond-shaped to round, tip obtuse to acute Inflorescence: spike, 6-7 mm wide, sessile; bracts 3-3.5 mm, entire, whitish, papery, midvein hairy Flowers: bisexual; sepals unequal, 5, outer 3.5-4.5 mm, ± widely lanceolate, not keeled, strongly 3-veined below, spine-tipped, inner 2.5 mm, ± linear, keeled, generally 1-veined, whitish, stiff, margins scarious; filaments 0.2-0.4 mm, slightly > staminodia; ovule pendent, style 1, short, stigma 0 or 2-lobed Fruit: indehiscent capsule; wall membranous; Seed smooth, hard Misc: waste places; < 150 m.