Sidastrum

Shrubs [subshrubs]. Stems erect, ± stellate-hairy, not viscid. Leaves spirally arranged, petiolate or subsessile; stipules persistent, subulate; blade ovate or lanceolate [elliptic], not dissected or parted, base truncate or subcordate [rounded], margins dentate [serrate or crenate], surfaces stellate-hairy. Inflorescences terminal panicles [solitary flowers or racemes]; involucel absent. Flowers: calyx not accrescent, not inflated, not completely enclosing fruit, lobes cupuliform, unribbed; corolla reflexed [rotate], purple [white, yellow, or orange]; staminal column ± included; style 5[–10]-branched; stigmas capitate. Fruits schizocarps, erect, not inflated, oblate to conic, not indurate, often stellate-hairy; mericarps 5[–10], 1-celled, without dorsal spurs or endoglossum, smooth or weakly reticulate, lateral walls firm, not evanescent, essentially indehiscent. Seeds 1 per mericarp, glabrous [subglabrous, sparsely hairy]. x = 16.

Distribution

Tex., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Africa, not in saline habitats.

Discussion

Species 7 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Sidastrum paniculatum