Annual or perennial, diffusely spreading or prostrate herbs, the foliage finely pubescent or glabrous, the stipules short or elongated, the small flowers in dichotomous cymes, with bracts similar to the leaves. Flowers manifestly pedicelled. Sepals distinct or nearly so, erect, cuspidate or abruptly tipped, not awned. Stamens mostly 5, borne at the base of the ovary. Styles united nearly to the stigmas. Utricle nearly or quite enclosed by the calyx. [Greek, star-Anychia.]

Four known species, of the southeastern United States. Type species: Anychiastrum riparium (Chapm.) Small.

I. Anychiastrum Montànum Small. Mountain Anychiastrum

Fig. 1722

Anychiastrum montanum Small, Torreya 10: 230. 1910.

Annual or biennial, minutely pubescent. Stem branched at the base, the branches spreading, diffuse, 2'-8' long, slender, purplish; leaves spatu-late to elliptic-spatulate, acuminate or acutish, 2"-5 1/2" long; stipules silvery; calyx 3/4" long in fruit; sepals ovate to oblong-ovate, glabrous, abruptly tipped, but not cuspidate.

In dry soil, mountains of Pennsylvania to Georgia. Aug.-Sept.