Herbs, perennial; stoloniferous. Stems erect or creeping, glabrous. Leaves basal, alternate; petiole absent; blade fleshy, not leathery, margins entire. Inflorescences axillary, spikes; bracts present. Pedicels present; bracteoles absent. Flowers unisexual; sepals 4, nearly distinct, calyx radially symmetric, cuplike, lobes oblong; corolla semitransparent, radially symmetric, rotate, tube not spurred or gibbous, lobes 4; stamens 3 or 4, free, equal, filaments glabrous; staminode 0; ovary 1-locular, placentation basal; stigma elongate. Fruits nutlets. Seeds 1, black or brown, oblong, wings absent. × = 6.

Distribution

North America, South America, Europe.

Discussion

Species 3 (1 in the flora).

According to a recent treatment (R. K. Hoggard et al. 2003), Littorella is a sister group to Plantago; this corresponds with morphological differences between these taxa and justifies recognizing separate genera.

Selected References

Hoggard, R. K. et al. 2003. Molecular systematics and biogeography of the amphibious genus Littorella (Plantaginaceae). Amer. J. Bot. 90: 429–435.

Lower Taxa

Littorella americana