Tecticornia indica

Decumbent to spreading shrub c. 40 cm high (rarely erect, to 2 m high), 1.5 m diam. Articles of ultimate branches cylindric to obovoid, 3–10 mm long, dull, often glaucous; lobes obtuse or with a short acute point, margins entire or minutely ciliate. Spikes terminal, mostly c. 1 cm long (rarely to c. 4 cm long); opposite bracts united, margins entire or minutely ciliate; flowers free or weakly united; perianth dorsiventrally flattened at apex. Fruiting spike often long persistent; fruiting perianth spongy, pericarp hard and completely enclosing seed; seed flattened-ovoid to nearly circular, 1–1.5 mm long, usually falling enclosed in perianth, testa membranous, pale brown.