Herbs, annual, mat-forming, glabrous. Roots fibrous. Stems prostrate. Leaves cauline, opposite, those of each pair unequal; stipules sheathing stem, attached to proximal petiole margins, scarious, fringed; blade flat, elliptical to obovate, smooth, tapered to base, margins entire. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary; bracts foliaceous; bracteoles scarious, fringed. Flowers inconspicuous, 2–3 mm diam.; calyx campanulate; calyx lobes 4–5, unequal; petals and petaloid staminodia absent; stamens (1–)3, alternating with calyx lobes; pistil usually 2-carpellate; ovary superior, 1-loculed, ovoid to globose; placentation free-central; styles and stigmas usually 2. Fruits capsules, dehiscence circumscissile. Seeds ca. 150; arils persistent on placentas, slender.

Distribution

Introduced; Mexico, West Indies, South America.

Discussion

Species 8 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Cypselea humifusa