[Koenigia L. Mant. 35. 1767. Not Konig Adans. 1763.] Low glabrous annual herbs, with fibrous roots, erect or spreading simple or forked stems, alternate or opposite entire leaves, funnelform membranous ocreae, and minute perfect terminal clustered flowers, subtended by a several-leaved involucre. Calyx 2-4-parted (usually 3-parted), greenish-white, the segments valvate, equal; pedicels short, subtended by transparent bracts; stamens 2 or 4, alternate with and often protruding between the calyx-segments; filaments short, stout; anthers ovoid. Style 2- or 3-parted; stigmas capitate; achene ovoid, 3-angled or lenticular, exceeding the persistent calyx; embryo eccentric, accumbent.

Two or three species, the following typical one circum-boreal, the others of the higher Himalayas.

1. Macounastrum Islandicum (L.) Small. Macounastrum

Fig. 1582

Koenigia islandica L. Mant. 35. 1767.

M. islandicum Small in Britt. & Brown, 111. Fl. 1: 542. 1896.

Stems very slender, 1-4' long, sometimes tufted. Leaves obovate, oblong or almost orbicular, 1"-5" long, fleshy, obtuse at the apex, sessile or short-petioled; ocreae about i" long; involucre consisting of 3-6 obovate or orbicular leaves more or less united at their bases; flowers fascicled in the involucres, short-pedicelled; calyx i" long, the segments ovate-lanceolate, rather obtuse; stamens very short; style-branches short; achene less than 1" long, brown, often slightly curved, striate, its faces convex.

Greenland and Labrador to Hudson Bay and Alaska. Also in arctic Europe and Asia. Summer.