Herbs, perennial, suffrutescent, glabrous. Stems numerous from base, erect or prostrate, branched, ribbed, not jointed, not armed, not fleshy. Leaves opposite (rarely alternate), connate, clasping at base, sessile, succulent; blade linear or broadly ovate, margins entire, apex acute or apiculate. Inflorescences axillary, flowers solitary or in 2–3-flowered clusters, bibracteate. Flowers bisexual, with 1 or 2 bractlets ± equaling perianth length; perianth deeply 5[–7]-parted, segments strongly imbricate, chartaceous; stamens 5; stigmas 2. Fruiting structures: fruit a utricle; pericarp free from seed, membranous, indehiscent. Seeds vertical, lenticular; seed coat black, shiny; embryo annular, perisperm copious. x = 9.

Distribution

w United States, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Species ca. 5 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Nitrophila mohavensis, Nitrophila occidentalis

Key

1	Leaves not densely crowded, blade linear, terete or subterete, at least in distal 1/2, 5-30 × 0.7-1.5 mm; stems 7-30 cm	Nitrophila occidentalis
1	Leaves densely crowded, blade broadly ovate, flat, 2.3-4(-4.7) × 2.5-3.5 mm; stems 3-10 cm	Nitrophila mohavensis