General: Annual herb from a fibrous root; stems prostrate, softly hairy to bristly, with milky juice, 10-40 cm long.
Leaves: Stem leaves opposite, obliquely oblong, 5-15 mm, long, often with a deep red central spot, somewhat toothed, hairy beneath, glabrous above; stipules linear, 0.5 mm long.
Flowers: Inflorescence of several involucres solitary in the leaf-axils; involucres 1 mm long, stiffly-hairy, triangular-shaped; glands 4, yellow, conspicuous membranous appendages kidney-shaped, white to deep pink.
Fruits: Capsules, 1.5 mm long, hairy; seeds 1 mm long, pinkish, sticky when wet, ridged and cross-corrugated.
If more than one illustration is
available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two
subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below.
Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.