Nitrophila

S. Watson

Botany (Fortieth Parallel), 297. 1871.

Etymology: Greek nitron, native soda, and philios, loving, for the habitat preference of the plants
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 263. Mentioned on page 258, 259.

Herbs, perennial, suffrutescent, glabrous. Stems numerous from base, erect or prostrate, branched, ribbed, not jointed, not armed, not fleshy. Leaves opposite (rarely alternate), connate, clasping at base, sessile, succulent; blade linear or broadly ovate, margins entire, apex acute or apiculate. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary or in 2–3-flowered clusters, bibracteate. Flowers bisexual, with 1 or 2 bractlets ± equaling perianth length; perianth deeply 5[–7]-parted, segments strongly imbricate, chartaceous; stamens 5; stigmas 2. Fruiting structures: fruit a utricle; pericarp free from seed, membranous, indehiscent. Seeds vertical, lenticular; seed coat black, shiny; embryo annular, perisperm copious. x = 9.

Distribution

w United States, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Species ca. 5 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Leaves not densely crowded, blade linear, terete or subterete, at least in distal 1/2, 5-30 × 0.7-1.5 mm; stems 7-30 cm Nitrophila occidentalis
1 Leaves densely crowded, blade broadly ovate, flat, 2.3-4(-4.7) × 2.5-3.5 mm; stems 3-10 cm Nitrophila mohavensis