Plant: Perennial; stem decumbent to ascending, tomentose or becoming glabrous Leaves: cauline, opposite, short-petioled, 2-9 mm; stipules separate, linear; blade ovate, tomentose, tip acute, margin entire INFLORESCENCE: flower-like, generally 1 per node; involucre 1-1.5 mm, bell-shaped, tomentose; gland < 1 mm, oblong; appendage width = gland width, scalloped, white Flowers: Staminate flowers 15-20, generally in 5 clusters around pistillate flower, each flower a stame; Pistillate flower: 1, central, stalked; ovary chambers 3, ovule 1 per chamber, styles 3, style divided > 1/2 length Fruit: capsule, 1.5-2 mm, ovoid, lobed, tomentose; Seed 1-1.5 mm, ovoid, slightly wrinkled, white Misc: Dry, stony slopes or flats; < 1300 m.; Dec-May Notes: Flowers borne in a cyanthia, with 4 white petaloid appendages each with a dark purple gland.Stems sometimes reddish. Leaves turning reddish with age. References: Kearney & Peebles; Arizona Flora. McDougall; Seed plants of Northern Arizona. ASU specimans