[2] According to Fuentes-Bazan et al. (2012), the species in genus Oxybasis are non-aromatic annual herbs.

The axillary and terminal inflorescences consist of spicately or sometimes paniculately arranged compact glomerules of flowers, ebracteate or in the axils of leaf-like bracts.

The lateral flowers are usually female, with 3 (-4) variously connate perianth segments, missing (-1) stamens and 2 stigmas.

The brownish or black seed coat can be almost smooth, finely reticulate, or minutely pitted.

The genus Oxybasis was first described in 1841 by Grigori Silytsch Karelin and Ivan Petrovich Kirilov (In: Enumeration plantarum anno 1840 in regionibus altaicis et confinibus collectarum.