Herbs, annual or perennial, with taproot. Stems fascicled, decumbent to erect, branching distally, 0.5–3 dm. Leaves opposite or subopposite; stipules absent; petiole absent; blade elliptic to elliptic-spatulate, 1.5–4 (–4.5) × 0.5–1.4 (–1.8) cm, base narrowly cuneate, margins prominently spinulose-dentate, teeth without prominent blackened tips, not incurved, apex acuminate; midvein and secondary-veins prominent. Inflorescences sessile, 1–1.2 (–2) cm; staminate flowers crowded, 1 per node; pistillate flowers 1–3, crowded; bracts linear-lanceolate, to 2 mm, apex acute, glands patelliform, long-stalked, 1.5–-2 mm diam. Staminate flowers: calyx to 1 mm. Pistillate flowers: sepals 0; styles connate only at base, to 3 mm. Capsules ovoid, 3.5 × 4–4.5 mm, deeply 3-lobed; lobes of gynobase 2 mm; columella sometimes persistent. Seeds mottled light gray, cylindric-ovoid, 3.5 × 1.8 mm, smooth; caruncle absent.

Phenology: Flowering Dec–Mar(–Apr); fruiting Mar–Jun.
Habitat: Dry sandy desert soils.
Elevation: 0–1000 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Calif., Nev., Mexico (Baja California), Mexico (Sonora)

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"connate" is not a number. "distinct" is not a number."dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.