Herbs, from woody rootstock. Stems erect, subterete, 20–120 cm, branched, glabrate proxi­mally, or strigillose, especially in distal parts, with raised strigillose lines decurrent from leaf axils mid stem. Leaves: stipules narrowly deltate, 0.3–0.5 × 0.1–0.2 mm; petiole winged, 0.1–0.7 cm; blade narrowly to broadly lanceolate, 4–15 × 0.3–1(–3) cm, base tapered, margins subentire to inconspicuously glandular-serrulate, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces finely strigillose, especially on abaxial veins, sometimes glabrate; bracts narrower, reduced in size. Inflores­cences open, leafy racemes, flowers solitary in axils; bracteoles lanceolate-linear or setaceous, 2–6 × 0.3–0.8 mm, attached on pedicel just proximal to base of ovary. Flowers: sepals ovate-deltate, 10–20 × 7–12 mm, ab­ruptly acuminate or acute, inconspicuously 5–7-nerved, surfaces strigillose; petals deep golden yellow, broadly obovate, 20–35 × 10–30 mm, apex shallowly emar­ginate, claw 1.5–3 mm; stamens 8 in 2 unequal series, fila­ments flattened and dilated near base, epipetalous set 3.4–4.5 mm, episepalous set 4.5–5.5 mm, anthers oblong, 4–5 mm; pollen shed in polyads; ovary subcylindric, slightly 4-angled, 8–12(–20) mm; nectary disc slightly elevated on ovary apex, 2–3 mm diam., 4-lobed, ringed by short hairs; style 3–3.5 mm, stigma clavate-capitate, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, often exserted beyond anthers. Capsules clavate-cylindric, subterete to obtusely 4-angled, 20–35 × 3.5–5 mm, thin walls, irregularly dehiscent, tapering to pedicel 10–40 mm. Seeds in several indistinct rows per locule, yellow-brown, oblong (appearing round), 0.5 mm, shiny, raphe 2/3 as wide as body. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Wet places, mainly along coastal areas, especially ditches, banks near brackish water.
Elevation: 0–200[–2600] m.

Distribution

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• Legacy Map

Ala., Fla., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex., Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Puebla, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay).

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.