Retamoid shrub, deciduous, hermaphrodite, 1-3(5) m in height, branched from the base. Differs from other Saharan species of the genus by its stems which are leafless, slender, with opposite branching, highly branched, erect and rigid. Trunk and older branches with smooth grey-white bark, although in older and thicker parts it is slightly fissured. Young branches slightly striated, green, greenish-yellowish or sometimes slightly glaucous, glabrous, \u00b1 puberulent. Leaves opposite, sessile, very small (1-4 mm), appearing only occasionally in young branchlets of the current year, simple, with entire margin, green on both sides, glabrous, promptly deciduous. Inflorescences in axillary umbelliform cymes, small (1-5 cm), on a short peduncle (\u00b1 1 cm), spaced along the stems, each with 2-6 flowers. Flowers hermaphrodite, greenish-yellowish, pentamerous, minute (4-6 mm in diameter). Calyx cupuliform, greenish-whitish, pubescent, divided \u00b1 halfway in 5 small ovate-lanceolate lobes, \u00b1 acute, persistent in fruiting. Corolla with 5 petals open in the shape of a star, fused at the base, ovate-lanceolate, involute, with margins folded upwards, \u00b1 pubescent. Stamens 5, with very short filaments so that the anthers seem subsessile at first glance. Staminal corona, annular, succulent. Pollen usually released grouped in 2 subglobulose dense masses, joined by a tail or “translator” (a curious trait seen in all species of the family) specially designed to adhere to pollinating insects. Fruit a narrow cylindrical follicle, relatively large [(5)8-12 \u00d7 0.5-1 cm], green at first and then brownish, glabrous, dehiscent in 2 valves that release numerous seeds. Seeds ovoid (6-8 mm), compressed, glabrous but with a tuft of straight and long hairs (up to 3 cm), whitish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-13254","species","type-species","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n