Perennial growing in dense tufts; distinguished by the deeply grooved, 4-angled stems which are slender, whitish and often winged; 4 to 16 inches; erect to descending (with tip ascending); sparsely hairy to smooth; flowers greenish-yellow.
Sparsely hairy, bright green; slender 4-angled stems, leaves narrow, whorls of 4 per node, margins and midribs often whitish; flowers greenish-yellow, solitary, closely subtended by 4 leaf-like bracts, short stemmed; fruits, purple, fleshy at maturity.
Habitat
Found along streams, moist places in pine-oak forests, chaparral and grasslands.
Flower Characteristics
Small flowers solitary in the axils on stalks 1/8 inch long; each flower with 4 leaf-like bracts; corolla greenish-yellow, 1/16 inch diameter; perfect or unisexual.
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Distinguished by the deeply grooved, 4-angled stems; usually bright green, sometimes pale; leaves small, thick and rigid, narrow and shiny; 4 leaves per whorl; margins and midribs often whitish.
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Paired fruit, 1/8 inch in diameter, somewhat fleshy at maturity, purple when ripe, fruit not hairy.