Glinus radiatus
Content
Description
Annual herb, stellate-puberulent; stems branched, prostrate or ascending, to 80 cm long. Leaves opposite or whorled, often unequal in size at a node; petiole 1-5(-12) mm long, with narrow hyaline wings; blade obovate, elliptical or spathulate, 10-40 x 2-15 mm, acute or obtuse at apex, cuneate to obtuse at base, narrowing gradually to base. Inflorescence an axillary fascicle of 3-8 flowers; pedicels 0-3 mm long, hairs branched and simple. Sepals 5, greenish, oblong or lanceolate, 2.5-4.5 x 0.8-1.5 mm, stellate-puberulent except near margin, with linear apical appendage of 0.5-1 mm long; stamens 3-5, filaments 1-1.5 mm long, anthers 0.5-0.7 mm long. Capsule ovoid or ellipsoid, 3-4 mm long, subtended by persistent perianth; seeds numerous, ovoid-reniform, 0.3-0.5 mm long, smooth, lustrous, pale reddish-brown, whitish strophiole filiform, shorter than to equalling the seed.
Distribution
Guianas present, New World tropics present
New World tropics; 31 specimens seen, 3 from the Guianas (GU: 2; FG: 1).
Notes
The stellate hairs of the plant are shortly stalked, often with 6 rays of unequal length. The peculiar arillate apparatus emanating from the base of the seed consists of a filiform, white, funicle which follows the curve of the seed for about half-way around, as well as a minute (ca. 0.2 mm) but easily recognizable membranous, seemingly bilobed excrescence or somewhat inflated or scale-like, bilobed structure (strophiole), attached at the same place as the funicle.