Perennial herb (but stems mostly annual from woody rootstock) to c. 40 cm high, glabrous, pale green or yellow-green; stems 1–several, little-branched, wiry, striate. Leaves alternate, linear, mostly 1–4 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, rather lax, acute, midrib decurrent, margins entire, sessile; lowest leaves scale-like. Inflorescences axillary; peduncle 1–3 mm long, united with leaf-base; bracteoles 2, opposite, linear, mostly 2–5 mm long, inserted on leaf 1–3 mm above axis; pedicel very short. Receptacle cupular-globose, c. 1 mm long; tepals oblong, c. 1.5 mm long, united at base, finely keeled, tips incurved, green with white margins; stamens inserted c. halfway on tepals; style c. 1 mm long, stigma globular. Fruit globose, c. 2 mm diam., reticulate-striate. Flowers mostly spring and summer.
VVP, VRiv, GipP, Gold, CVU, NIS, EGU, HNF, MonT, VAlp. Also Qld, NSW, ACT, Tas. East Asia. Once widespread across Victoria, but all recent collections are from highland areas in the vicinity of Wulgulmerang and it is believed to have become extinct across most of its Australian range due to loss of habitat and grazing. Grows in grasslands, woodlands and herbfields, usually in damp situations.
