| Description : |
Amphibious annual herbs, stems creeping and rooting below, erect above, up to ca 50 cm tall, simple or branched, weakly 4-angled. Leaves decussate, sessile, lanceolate to oblong, 1-3 cm long, obtuse at apex; lower leaves cuneate to cordate at base; upper leaves cordate or auriculate at base. Bracts like upper leaves, usually somewhat auriculate at base; bracteoles acute-triangular to subulate, usually somewhat less than 1 mm long. Flowers monomorphic, sessile, solitary in axils of leaf-like bracts. Calyx tube campanulate, 2-2.5 mm long, disintegrating in fruit; calyx lobes 5 or rarely 6, deltate, ca 0.5 mm long; calyx appendages absent; interjected folds rudimentary. Petals 5 or rarely 6, pinnately divided into linear segments, 2-3 mm long, bright pink, showy. Stamens 5 or rarely 6; filaments 3-3.5 mm long, attached to base of calyx tube thus appearing free; anthers exserted, born level with the stigma, deep brown before dehiscence. Ovary ellipsoid; style ca 2 mm long, exserted; stigma capitate. Capsule elongate-ellipsoid, ca 3 mm long, opening by 3 valves; seeds semi-ellipsoidal, ca 1.5 mm long. |