Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual or perennial herbs, sometimes subshrubs.

Stems: Stems succulent, leafless, jointed, branches opposite, internodes short.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple, reduced and scale-like. Opposite. Sessile and connate with other leaf at the node and deccurent on the stem. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in spikes, sunken in groups of 3–7 on opposite sides of the joints. Flowers bisexual (perfect), small. Calyx fleshy, truncate or 3–4-toothed. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 1–2; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 2–3(–5)-carpellate, 1-celled; ovule 1, placentation basal; styles 2, connate at base; stigmas dry.

Fruit: Fruit a utricle; oblong or ovoid; surrounded by the spongy persistent calyx. Seeds 1 per fruit; vertical.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Alkaline habitats.

Elevation Range: