Schiedea verticillata, a member of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), is a perennial herbaceous species, which dies back to an enlarged root during the dry season. Stems, which can reach 0.4 to 0.6 m (1.3 to 2 ft) in length, are both upright or pendant (drooping). The stalkless leaves are fleshy, broad, and pale green, are usually arranged in threes, and measure 9 to 15 cm (3.5 to 5.9 in) long and 7 to 9 cm (2.8 to 3.5 in) wide. Flowers are arranged in open, branched clusters, usually 17 to 25 cm (6.7 to 9.8 in) long. Opposite or whorled pale green bracts, located at inflorescence branches and underneath the flowers, measure 6 to 40 mm (0.2 to 1.6 in) long at the central branch and 3.5 to 6 mm (0.1 to 0.2 in) long on the side branches and underneath the flowers. Each petalless flower is positioned on a stalk 5 to 20 mm (0.2 to 0.8 in) long and has five lance shaped sepals 8 to 10 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long, five nectaries, 10 stamens, and four or five styles. The ovoid capsule measures 7 to 9 mm (0.3 to 0.4 in) long and releases reddish to grayish brown seeds, about 0.7 to 0.8 mm (0.03 in) long. This species, the only member of its genus to grow in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, is distinguished from other species of the genus by its exceptionally large sepals and, usually, three leaves per node.