Boerhavia repens is a relatively robust perennial herb characterized by several prostrate stems radiating from the root crown sparingly to many branches. The leaves are simple and opposite, with blades usually ovate to elliptic–ovate or suborbicular, measuring 1–5 cm long and 0.5–5 cm wide. The leaf apex ranges from obtuse to acute, and the base is rounded to truncate or subcordate. Surfaces are sparsely puberulous to glabrous, with glandular punctate features. The margins are entire to gently sinuate. Petioles are 0.3–2 cm long, and stipules are absent. The flowers are bisexual (perfect) and usually small, occurring in axillary pedunculate cymes or pseudo-umbels, typically from alternate axils. The peduncles appear crowded aside from the axil proper by the growth of an axillary branch, which quickly bears axillary cymes. The leaves often reduce gradually distally, creating a paniculate appearance but with a clear central axis. Peduncles are branched only near the tip, with branching umbelliform. Each branch ends in a glomerule of flowers, or the branch system is reduced to a single umbelliform to glomerate cluster of flowers, or the peduncle bears one pair of leaves and a glomerate cluster of flowers. There is no involucre. The calyx is shortly 5-lobed, 2–2.5 mm long, strongly constricted below the middle, with the lower part glandular, 5–costate, and the limb pink or white, campanulate. The corolla is absent. Stamens number 2–4, subequal with the perianth. The ovary is superior and sessile, with a filiform, unbranched style and a capitate or somewhat disk-shaped, exserted stigma. The fruit is a clavate to ellipsoid anthocarp, 3–4 mm long, with a rounded apex and five prominent ribs. The fruit is very glandular to subglabrous or glabrous. Each fruit contains one seed, closely enclosed by the thin ovary wall. It occurs in moderately dry coastal areas and leeward semi-dry lower slopes below 50 meters.