Herbs, perennial; stoloniferous. Stems erect or creeping, glabrous. Leaves basal, alternate; petiole absent; blade fleshy, not leathery, margins entire. Inflorescences axillary, spikes; bracts present. Pedicels present; bracteoles absent. Flowers unisexual; sepals 4, nearly distinct, calyx radially symmetric, cuplike, lobes oblong; corolla semitransparent, radially symmetric, rotate, tube not spurred or gibbous, lobes 4; stamens 3 or 4, free, equal, filaments glabrous; staminode 0; ovary 1-locular, placentation basal; stigma elongate. Fruits nutlets. Seeds 1, black or brown, oblong, wings absent. × = 6.

Distribution

North America, South America, Europe.

Discussion

Species 3 (1 in the flora).

According to a recent treatment (R. K. Hoggard et al. 2003), Littorella is a sister group to Plantago; this corresponds with morphological differences between these taxa and justifies recognizing separate genera.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Littorella americana