Herbs perennial, or subshrubs, slender, 3–15 dm, green, glabrous. Stems erect, much-branched distally. Leaves usually opposite or subopposite throughout, rarely alternate, not crowded or overlapping distally; sessile; blade narrowly linear to narrowly lanceolate, 5–40 ×1–4 mm (mostly 5–10 mm distally in inflorescences), base attenuate. Inflorescences racemes. Flowers opposite, subsessile to pedicellate, pedicel slender, 0.5–1.5 mm, distylous; floral tube obconic becoming cylindrical, 3–5 × 1 mm; epicalyx segments equal to or slightly surpassing length of sepals; petals pale purple or white, oblong to obovate, 3–4 × 1 mm, mostly shorter than floral tube; nectary absent; stamens 6. Capsules septicidal or septifragal. Seeds ca. 30, obovoid to fusiform. 2n = 20.
Phenology: Flowering summer–fall.
Habitat: In and near brackish marshes of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains.
Elevation: 0–100 m.
Distribution
In and near brackish marshes of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, Ala., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., La., Md., Miss., N.J., N.Y., N.C., S.C., Tex., Va.
Discussion
Selected References
None.