Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Plants annual, glandular–pubescent.

Stems: Stems ascending to spreading, much–branched, usually filiform, frequently glandular–pubescent distally.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Opposite, axillary fascicles rarely present; basal frequently in tuft of ascending leaves, rosette rarely present; cauline leaves conspicuously connate basally, forming shallow, scarious cup. Basal leaves linear, 4–10 mm, succulent; cauline leaves blade linear, fleshy; proximal Blades 9–20 mm, becoming shorter distally, 4–7 mm. Apex of basal leaves apiculate; apex of cauline leaves apiculate. Base sessile. Surfaces of basal leaves glabrous; cauline leaves glabrous or rarely pubescent. Margins entire. 1-veined. Petioles absent. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers solitary and terminal on the branches or few in cymes. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic, axillary. Pedicels slender, distal portion densely glandular–pubescent, becoming less densely glandular–pubescent proximally, proximal 1/4 usually glabrous. Calyx glandular–pubescent basally; sepals elliptic to orbiculate, 2–2.5 mm, hyaline margins whitish, apex obtuse to rounded, glandular–pubescent, remaining appressed following capsule dehiscence. Petals ovate to orbiculate, 1–2 mm, shorter than sepals. Stamens 5 or 10. Ovary superior 1-celled; ovules numerous; styles as many as and alternate with the sepals.

Fruit: Capsules 2.5–3 mm; exceeding sepals; dehiscing ca. 1/4 length. Seeds dark brown; reniform to nearly globose; plump; abaxial groove absent; 0.4–0.5 mm; densely tuberculate or strongly pebbled (e North America).

Ploidy:

Habitat: Dryish sites; waste places.

Elevation Range: ca. 200 m.