Perennial woody shrub, up to 1.5 m, much-branched, often hemispherical. Stems rigid, densely branched, with small imbricate leaves (reduced to scales, <5 mm). Photosynthetic stems green to grayish. Flowers unisexual, very small, axillary, sessile, surrounded by scarious bracts. Fruit enclosed in persistent perianth, forming papery wings aiding wind dispersal.