Tecticornia indica subsp. leiostachya

Shrubs to c. 40 cm high. Articles thick, cylindric to obovoid, slightly lobed, ciliolate. Spikes ellipsoid to cylindric, the lowest bract pair smaller than, or equal in size to those above it. Fruiting perianth spongy, pericarp hard, horny all over. Seed ovate, testa smooth and glossy. Flowers mainly winter.