A succulent plant with slender stems seeming to grow through middle of 1 circular leaf and topped by a raceme of tiny white to pinkish flowers. Flowers are 1/8-1/4" (3-6 mm) wide; sepals 2; petals 5, from slightly longer to nearly twice as long as sepals.

The perfoliate leaves of this species are derived from opposite leaves that adjoin to form one leaf through which the stem of the inflorescence emerges. As the common names indicate, the leaves are edible. This species was once included in the genus, Montia.