| Description : |
Herbs, erect, up to 40 cm high; stems terete, unbranched or dichotomously branched or often sympodial, pink; nodes thickened. Leaves oblong to oblong-lanceolate, oblique at base, distantly serrulate, acute to acuminate, apiculate at apex, 2.5 - 6.5 x 0.3 - 0.8 cm, glabrous; midnerve prominent, lateral nerves obscure; petioles ca 2 mm long; stipules subulate, ca 1 mm long. Cyathia axillary, solitary; peduncle ca 8 mm long; involucre turbinate, ca 2.5 x 2 mm, sparsely hairy; lobes 5, oblong or triangular, fimbriate; glands 4, transversely oblong, ca 2 x 1 mm, puberulous at base; limbs patent, suborbicular to sub-rhombate, undulating at apical margin, 1.5 - 2 x 1 - 1.5 mm, white or pale pink. Male florets: pedicels ca 1 mm long, glabrous; anthers subglobose; bracteoles filiform, ca 1.5 mm long. Female floret: gynophore ca 1.5 mm long, glabrous; ovary ovoid, ca 1 mm long; styles 0.5 - 0.7 mm long, free, each bifid at apex; stigma capitate. Fruits subobovoid, obtusely keeled, ca 3 mm long, glabrous; seeds oblongoid, subquadrangular, transversely 3 or 4 striated, pale pink. Fl. & Fr. July - Nov. |