The telephus spurge is a perennial herb with numerous erect stems that reach up to one foot in height. The stems and leaves are smooth and fleshy with a milky sap. Its leaves are 1-2 inches long, alternate, widest above the middle, and usually maroon with midribs and margins. Leaf stalks are absent. Flowers are reddish-green cyathia (cup-like structures) with a single female flower (an ovary less than 0.5 inch long) and several male flowers (one stamen each) on short stalks surrounded by 4-5 minute, petal-like glands. The fruit is a 3-lobed capsule.