Schiedea obovata, a member of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae) and a short-lived perennial, is a branching subshrub growing to 1 m (3 ft) tall with thick, somewhat fleshy leaves. The leaves are thick, somewhat fleshy, elliptic shaped, 4 to 11 cm (1.6 to 4.3 in) long and up to 6 cm (2.4 in) wide, with three or five large veins. The inflorescence comprises 7 to 12 flowers arranged in a congested cluster. The flowers lack petals, but usually have five sepals which are white inside and green or green-veined on the outside. In fruit, the sepals become purple and enclose the capsule, forming a structure similar to a berry in appearance perhaps attractive ta birds, which would aid in dispersal. Seeds are black and about 1 mm (0.04 in) long. This species and S. trinervis can be distinguished from other members of the genus by their shrubby habit and fleshy purple sepals surrounding the capsule. This species differs from S. trinervis in having a more crowded inflorescence (flowering part of plant) with shorter peduncles (flower stalks) and sepals with a rounded tip.