It is a robust, completely bare,
biennial or more or less
perennial, succulent plant that reaches heights of between 0.2 and 2 meters. The upright stems are simple and round. The three-seated, seemingly opposite or alternate leaves are usually upright to straight when spread out. They are slightly cylindrical, a little rutty on the top and reach a length of 1 to 13 centimeters with a diameter of 2 to 6 millimeters. The leaf blade narrowed at the base is reddish-green to gray-green with reddish brown spots. At the tip of the leaf margin there are two to nine small teeth on which there are numerous brood buds.
Inflorescences The compact, multi-flowered inflorescences form
thyrses 10 to 25 centimeters long. The slender
flower stalk is between 6 and 20 millimeters long. The
hermaphrodite flowers are hanging. The reddish to green and red-striped petals are fused together like a bell. The 2.5 to 6 millimeter long
corolla tube ends in sharply pointed, triangular-lanceolate corolla lobes 5 to 10 millimeters long and 3.7 to 5.7 millimeters wide. The
stamens are attached below the center of the corolla tube and do not protrude beyond the tube. The 2 to 2.5 millimeters large
anthers are egg-shaped. The
nectar flakes, 0.7 to 2 centimeters long are half-round to square with a rounded tip. The oval-elongated carpel is 5.5 to 6.5 millimeters long. The
stylus has a length of about 2 millimeters. The upright
follicles contain seeds with a diameter of 0.6 to 2.5 millimeters. ==Invasive species==