Small, succulent perennial herb; taproot thickened, tuberous, often branched; stems, tufted, few-branched, procumbent; leaves alternate, crowded on stem, nearly terete, usually blunt or obtuse apically, 1.5-2.5 cm long and 1.5-2.5 mm thick, light glaucous green; flowers borne singly (rarely in pairs) on short pedicels from leaf axils, mostly perfect, sometimes pistillate (usually both types on same plant), about 2-2.5 cm in diameter; sepals 2, foliaceous, deciduous in fruit; petals 5-8, lavender-pink (sometimes lighter or darker); stamens numerous; fruit a capsule, nearly globose, 3-valved dehiscing longitudinally and disintegrating at maturity; seeds roughly 1 mm in diameter, nearly discoid, often slightly concave on one or both sides, nearly smooth, black, covered by a thin translucent aril (pellicle) which imparts a grayish or slightly bluish appearance. Flowers June to August.