Much-branched, unarmed, spartioid shrub growing up to 2 m tall. This species is typically deciduous, shedding its leaves in response to climatic conditions, and often appears leafless or sparsely foliated. Leaves are small, linear, up to 20 mm long, borne on slender, green, erect, grooved shoots that are wand-like, appressed, and silky-hairy. Flowers are white, 1–1.5 cm long, arranged in 1–5-flowered racemes along the branches. The calyx is spathe-like, white with purplish tones, campanulate with short, broad lobes. The pod is ovoid-globose, up to 20 mm long, attenuated into a beak, leathery and indehiscent, containing 1–2 ovoid brownish seeds.