Annual with densely glandular-tomentose internodes in middle-stem region. Stem erect, up to 50 cm high. Leaves sessile, linear, 10–60 mm long, 1–3.5 mm wide, acute, the sheaths at least twice as long as wide. Inflorescence a dense, terminal cluster, the bracts all more or less mucronate, concealing calyces; pedicels to c. 0.5 mm long; calyx c. 10 mm long, calyx-lobes short, obtuse, membranous; petals 10–13 mm long, 1.2–3.5 mm wide, pink or purplish, more or less emarginate; styles 2. Capsule elliptic-ovoid, c. 5 mm long; seeds brownish-black, strongly hooded, asperulate-tuberculate, 1–1.3 mm long. Flowers Sep.–Nov.