Phyllanthus saffordii, a member of the Phyllanthaceae family, is an erect, low, woody shrub, sparsely branched, with terete stems 30 to 40 cm (11.8 to 15.7 in), side branchlets 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 in) long, with many small dark green, imbricate, oblong leaves 5 to 12 cm (2 to 4.7 in) long and 1.5 to 3 cm (0.6 to 1.2 in ) wide. Leaves are acuminate with an obtuse base, slightly inequilateral, margins thickened, cartilagineous, puncticulate on both surfaces with 9 pairs of lateral nerves. Stipules are 2.5 to 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long. Flowers are 6-merous and axillary. Male flowers on pedicels 1 to 2 mm (0. 4 to 0. 7 in) long with three free stamens and a disc of six free glands, globose anthers opening by vertical slits. Female flowers with sessile sepals oblong, 1.2 mm (0.05 in) long, glabrous ovary is ovoid or depressed-globose; with three styles connate at the base, saucer-like disc. Seeds have minute longitudinal lines.