Gossypianthus

Hooker

Icon. Pl. 3: plate 251. 1840.

Common names: Cottonflower
Etymology: Latin gossypion, cotton, and Greek anthemon, flower, presumably in reference to the villous tepals
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 438. Mentioned on page 406.

Herbs, perennial. Stems prostrate [or ascending], much-branched, indument of simple hairs. Leaves opposite, petiolate; blade linear to lanceolate, spatulate, or ovate, margins entire; basal leaves persistent. Inflorescences axillary, sessile, few-flowered glomerules; bracts and bracteoles membranous. Flowers bisexual; tepals 5, distinct, 3-veined; stamens 5; filaments connate basally into tube, ± free from perianth; anthers 2-locular; pseudostaminodes absent; ovule 1; style 1, ca. 0.2 mm; stigmas 2-lobed, capitate. Utricles broadly ovoid, membranous, indehiscent. Seeds 1, brown, lenticular-orbicular.

Distribution

North America, Mexico, West Indies.

Discussion

Species 2 (1 in the flora).