Herbs, winter annual, often hemispheric tufts. Stems erect, branched or unbranched. Leaves basal and cauline, alternate or subopposite; stipules absent; petiole present; blade margins entire; venation palmate. Inflorescences terminal, cymules or flowers solitary. Flowers bisexual, radially symmetric or weakly asymmetric; perianth and androecium perigynous; hypanthium completely adnate to ovary; sepals 5, connate proximally; petals 0 or (4–)5, white, 0–0.4 mm, much shorter than sepals; nectary absent; stamens 5; staminodes 5, opposite petals, undivided, not gland-tipped; pistil 3-carpellate; ovary inferior, 1-locular, placentation parietal; styles 3, weakly connate proximally; stigmas 3; ovules 40–70. Fruits capsules, 1-locular, 3-valved, obpyramidal, apex not beaked. Seeds 40–70 per fruit, oblong, not winged; aril absent. x = 23.

Distribution

sc, se United States, Mexico, South America (Chile, Uruguay).

Discussion

Species 1.

Selected References

Ward, D. B. and A. K. Gholson. 1987. The hidden abundance of Lepuropetalon spathulatum (Saxifragaceae) and its first reported occurrence in Florida. Castanea 52: 59–66.

Lower Taxa

Lepuropetalon spathulatum