Scoparia

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 116. 1753.

Common names: Goat-weed sweet-broom
Etymology: Latin scopa, broom, and -aria, resemblance, alluding to appearance and use
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 276. Mentioned on page 12, 14, 270.

Herbs [subshrubs], annual or perennial. Stems decumbent, spreading, ascending, or erect, glabrous or puberulent to glandular-puberulent. Leaves cauline, opposite, distal sometimes whorled; petiole absent or nearly so; blade not fleshy, not leathery, margins entire, crenate, dentate, or pinnately lobed, surfaces distinctly punctate. Inflorescences axillary, flowers 1–4 per node; bracts present. Pedicels present, spreading to ascending; bracteoles absent. Flowers bisexual; sepals 4 or 5, proximally connate, calyx radially symmetric, short-campanulate, lobes ovate to elliptic-ovate or lanceolate; corolla white, sometimes tinged pink or lavender, or yellow or orangish yellow, radially symmetric, rotate or subrotate, tube base not spurred or gibbous, throat densely pilose internally, lobes 4; stamens 4, proximally adnate to corolla, subequal, exserted, filaments glabrous; staminode 0; ovary 2-locular, placentation axile; stigma capitate. Fruits capsules, dehiscence septicidal and secondarily loculicidal. Seeds 50–200, brown to dark brown, oblong or angled, wings absent. × = 10.

Distribution

United States, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, introduced in Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar), Australia.

Discussion

Species ca. 10 (2 in the flora).

Key

1 Corollas white, sometimes tinged pink or lavender; calyx lobes 4. Scoparia dulcis
1 Corollas yellow or orangish yellow; calyx lobes 5. Scoparia montevidensis
... more about "Scoparia"
Craig C. Freeman +
Linnaeus +
Goat-weed +  and sweet-broom +
United States +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America +, introduced in Asia +, Africa +, Indian Ocean Islands (Madagascar) +  and Australia. +
Latin scopa, broom, and -aria, resemblance, alluding to appearance and use +
chodat1908a +
Scoparia +
Plantaginaceae +