Prostrate succulent annual or pernnial herbs. Leaves alternate or opposite. Stipules 0. Flowers solitary, axillary, actinomorphic. Perianth segments 5; lobes trangular, apiculate from the back just below the apex; green outside, pink or purple inside. Stamens 5-numerous, free, inserted at mouth of perianth tube. Ovary superior, consisting of 2-3 united carpels, 2-3-locular, with numerous ovules per loculus. Styles 2-3. Fruit a conical circumscissile capsule with a pointed lid. Seeds black with a prominent hilum.