Descripcion

Hierba de 50- 60 cm alt., glabra, de tallos erguidos, oscuramente cuadrangulares. Hojas decusadas, sésiles, linear­ lanceoladas, de base ensanchada, biauriculada, semi-abrazadora, 5-10 cm long. x 0,5-1,8 cm lat. Inflorescencias axilares 3-7 floras, fasciculadas, subsésiles, pedúnculos subnulos. Flores con tubo floral ca. 3,2 mm long., 8-nervado, lóbulos calicinos triangulares, 0,5 mm long. alternando con 4 dientes intercalares menores. Pétalos rosados, patentes, subcirculares, 2,5 mm diám., con brevísima uña basal, fijos cerca del borde interno del tubo floral. Estambres 2,8 mm long., anteras amarillas. Ovario subgloboso, 1,2 mm long.; estilo filiforme, 2 mm long. Cápsula 4 mm diám., en el ápice con la base persistente del estilo. Semillas diminutas, con pelos mucilaginosos al hidratarse. [Robust annual herbs to 1 m tall, unbranched, or branching mainly above base with branches mostly shorter than main stem, infrequently branching from base with long, semidecumbent branches. Leaves linear-lanceolate to linear-oblong, rarely elliptic to spathulate, largest ones 20-80 by 2-15 mm, apex acute, base auriculate to cordate, clasping, occasionally cuneate on low- ermost leaves. Inflorescences varying from sessile (1-) to 3-flowered cymes to short- to long-pedunculate 3- to 5- (to 14-)flowered cymes; peduncle, when present, to 9 mm long, sturdy, bibracteolate; pedicels mostly 2 mm or less, bibracteolate, bracteoles lh or less length of floral tube. Floral tube urceolate to slightly campanulate, (2.5-)3-5 mm long, longitudinal ridges present but not conspicuously enlarged; calyx lobes triangular, alternating with thickened appendages; appendages about equal in length to lobes, mostly oriented outward from floral tube in bud; petals 4 (or 5), obovate, usually 2 by 2 mm, deep rose- purple, sometimes with deeper purple spot at base; stamens 4 (to 7), exserted, anthers deep yellow; style long, slender, equal to or longer than ovary, exserted at anthesis; ovary incompletely 2-locular. Capsule 3.5-5 mm in diameter, equal to or exceeding calyx lobes, rarely enclosed. n= 33.]