| Description : |
Herbs erect, glabrous, up to 70 cm high; stems pseudo-dichotomously branched, terete, somewhat thickened at nodes; internodes 2 - 3 cm long, reddish brown. Lower leaves opposite, distant, oblong-ovate, oblique at base, entire or serrulate, obtuse at apex, 2 – 3.5 x 0.5 – 1.5 cm, whitish on lower surface; midrib distinct, lateral nerves obscure; petioles ca 1 mm long. Upper leaves imbricate, concealing the cyathia, sessile, subcordate to amplexicaul at base, 0.5 - 1 x 0.4 - 0.6 cm; stipules ca 1.5 mm long, fimbriate. Cyathia axillary, solitary; involucre campanulate, ca 2.5 x 2 mm; lobes 5, oblong, fimbriate, ca 0.3 mm long; glands 4, oblong, ca 0.5 x 0.2 mm; limbs transversely obovate, wavy at apical margin, ca 1 x 1.3 mm, white or purplish pink. Male florets: pedicels ca 1 mm long; anthers subglobose; bracteoles filiform, ca 1.5 mm long. Female floret: gynophore ca 2 mm long, glabrous; ovary globose, ca 4 mm in diam.; styles free, bifid; stigma capitate. Fruits ovoid, obtusely trilobed, obtusely angled or acutely keeled at base, ca 3 x 2 mm, glabrous or sparsely hairy; seeds ovoid, transversely 3 or 4-furrowed or not, reddish brown or pale grey. |