Lepyrodiclis

Herbs, annual. Taproots slender. Stems ascending to decumbent or sprawling, simple or branched, terete or angled. Leaves connate proximally, sessile; blade 1-veined, lanceolate or rarely elliptic, not succulent, apex acute. Inflorescences axillary and terminal, compound cymes; bracts paired, foliaceous, smaller. Pedicels reflexed in fruit. Flowers: perianth and androecium weakly perigynous; hypanthium minimal; sepals 5, distinct, green, lanceolate to elliptic or ovate, 4–5 mm, herbaceous, margins white, scarious, apex somewhat acute, not hooded; petals 5, white or pink, not clawed, blade apex entire or emarginate; nectaries at base of filaments opposite sepals; stamens 10, arising from nectariferous disc at ovary base; filaments distinct nearly to base; staminodes absent; styles 2, clavate, 3.5–4 mm, glabrous proximally; stigmas 2, subterminal, minutely roughened to papillate (50×). Capsules globose-ovoid, opening by 2 straight valves; carpophore absent. Seeds 1–2(–4), dark brown, reniform, laterally compressed, tuberculate, marginal wing absent, appendage absent. x = 17.

Distribution

Introduced; c, sw Asia, introduced in Europe (Germany), Asia (Japan).

Discussion

Species 3–4 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

Rabeler, R. K. and R. R. Old. 1992. Lepyrodiclis holosteoides (Caryophyllaceae), “new” to North America. Madroño 39: 240–242.

Lower Taxa

Lepyrodiclis holosteoides