This perennial species grows as a small shrub and can reach up to 65 cm in height (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Western 1994). It has woody branches, club-like leaves in addition to winged fruit and it produces small brown flowers between August and December (Jongbloed et al. 2003). The plant's characteristic habitats are coastal sand sheets and rocky gulfs, although it is also known to occur in disturbed habitats such as coastal landfills (Jongbloed et al. 2003, Böer and Saenger 2006). Due to its preferred habitat, this plant is considered to be a halophyte (Karim and Dakheel 2006, G.R. Feulner, in lit, MEW 2010). This species can also provide grazing fodder for camels and other animals (Norton et al. 2009).