Description: Annual or perennial erect herb, 20–45 cm high, ± glabrous.
Leaves usually alternate, elliptic to narrow-lanceolate or oblong, 5–20 mm long, 1–5 mm wide, apex acute, base ± rounded.
Inflorescences of 3–7-flowered clusters in the axils of leaves. Flowers homostylous. Hypanthium 4–5 mm long. Sepals 4–6, triangular, membranous; appendages more than twice as long, narrow-triangular. Petals 1–1.5 mm long, pink to purple. Stamens equal in number to the petals, included.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in damp places on heavy soils.