General:
Annual herb, rarely persistent for more than a year, from a short, slight taproot; not matted; stems decumbent to erect, solitary to several, much branched, more or less glandular-hairy, 10-30 cm tall.

Leaves:
Basal leaves few, soon deciduous; stem leaves opposite, linear awl-like, 3-20 mm long, 3-nerved, glabrous, the primary ones mostly with clustered secondary leaves or short branches in their axils; stipules lacking.

Flowers:
Inflorescence of several to numerous flowers in an open, often diffuse cluster frequently more than 1/2 the total height of the plant, with awl-like bracts; petals broadly egg-shaped, from only slightly to 1.5 times longer than the sepals; sepals lanceolate, long-pointed or abruptly sharp-pointed, 3-nerved, 2.5-3.5 mm long.

Fruits:
Capsules egg-shaped, 3.5-4.5 mm long, 3-valved; seeds about 0.6 mm long, brown, finely pimply in a paving-block pattern.

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:
Minuartia tenella (Nutt.) Mattf.