Herbs, annual. Taproots slender. Stems simple or branched, terete. Leaves connate proximally by line of tissue or sheath, sessile; blade 3-veined, linear to subulate, apex acute. Inflorescences axillary, flowers generally solitary; bracts foliaceous; involucel bracteoles absent. Pedicels erect. Flowers: sepals 11–15 mm; tube green, 15-veined, narrowly cylindric, terete, commissures between sepals absent, lobes green or reddish, 3-veined proximally, lanceolate-acuminate, shorter than tube, margins silvery, scarious, apex acute; petals 5, pink or purple, clawed, auricles absent, corona of 6–8, linear to lanceolate segments, blade apex entire or notched; nectaries at filament bases; stamens 5; filaments distinct; staminodes absent; ovary 1-locular; styles 2, 9–10 mm, glabrous proximally; stigmas 2, linear along adaxial surface of styles, papillate (30×). Capsules narrowly cylindric, opening by 4 ascending teeth; carpophore present. Seeds 6–8, black, ovate-oblong, dorsiventrally compressed, finely papillate, marginal wing absent, appendage absent; embryo central, straight. x = 14.

Distribution

Europe (Mediterranean region), sw, c Asia.

Discussion

Species 6 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Velezia rigida