Decumbent or ascending shrub to c. 0.5(–1) m high; branchlets many, terete, hardly striate, glabrous, few-branched, arising from a woody rhizome or rootstock; flowering branchlets 1–1.5 mm diam., spike-like. Leaves alternate, triangular-subulate, 0.5–1(–2) mm long, appressed to slightly spreading, sessile, apex weak, dry, caducous. Inflorescences 1-flowered on upper stems; pedicels to c. 1 mm long; bract leaf-like; bracteoles 8–10 per flower, upper 4 closely subtending flower, margins fimbriate or dentate. Flowers cylindric; tepals 5, triangular-ovate, c. 1 mm long, obtuse, white to cream, appressed when dry, persistent; stamens with posterior hair-like appendages, anthers subsessile, lobes more or less equal. Drupe globose, 4–5 mm long, green. Flowers mainly spring (but spasmodically throughout the year).
MuM, VRiv, GipP, NIS, EGL, EGU, HSF, HNF, MonT, HFE, VAlp. Also NSW. In Victoria confined to the east where often locally plentiful in lowland to subalpine heathlands and woodlands.
