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General: Biennial or perennial herb from a taproot and branching stem-base; forming clumps to 20 cm across; stems decumbent to erect, several, branched, glabrous or sometimes very sparsely glandular-hairy above, 2-12 cm tall/long.
Leaves: Basal leaves succulent, linear, 1-3 cm long, up to 2 mm wide, 1-nerved, glabrous, in rosettes; stem leaves succulent, opposite, 2-6 pairs, linear, 5-15 mm long, often with fascicles of secondary leaves in their axils; stipules lacking.
Flowers: Inflorescence of erect, solitary, terminal or lateral flowers; petals 5, oblong, white, 1.5-2.5 mm long, sometimes lacking; sepals 5, greenish, egg-shaped, 2.5-3.5 mm long.
Fruits: Capsules broadly egg-shaped, 3-5 mm long, 4- to 5-valved; seeds about 0.5 mm long, smooth to slightly pebbled, reddish-brown, shiny.
Notes: Two subspecies occur in BC:
1. Plants glandular above..................... ssp. maxima
1. Plants glabrous...................... ssp. crassicaulis (S. Wats.) Crow
Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
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