General:
Annual herb from a taproot; stems prostrate to decumbent, often branched at base, straight appressed-hairy, 2-25 cm long.

Leaves:
Basal and stem leaves linear, to 2 cm long and 2 mm wide, appressed-hairy to spreading-hairy, entire, mostly alternate, reduced towards the branch tips.

Flowers:
In small clusters along and at tips of stems; corollas tiny (to 3 mm long), white, tubular at base, flaring merely 1 mm wide or less at top.

Fruits:
Nutlets usually 4, spreading in pairs, oblong, 1.5-2 mm long, flattened and sunken in the centre, with prominent, upturned or incurved margins beset (mostly above the middle) with hooked prickles.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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.

Illustration Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Cynoglossum penicillatum Hook. & Arn.
Pectocarya linearis var. penicillata (Hook. & Arn.) M.E. Jones