They are small plants, being approximately 2 cm (0.79 in) high by 10 cm (3.9 in) wide. This species is easily recognizable by its leaves which have a nearly rectangular crosssection and are arranged in two opposite rows. The leaves are gray or gray-green and are held more or less upright. The end of a leaf – the upper surface – gives the impression of having been cut (or truncated), hence the specific epithet truncata. The leaves are covered in white or gray lines with verrucosities.
In the wild, plants are often half-buried, leaving only the tips of the leaves visible above the soil. The truncated tip is translucent allowing light to enter for photosynthesis. In this respect the species resembles Lithops, Fenestraria, and Haworthia cymbiformis.
The flowers are not very showy, emerging in white, tubular clusters on a 20 cm (7.9 in) st