Description
Glabrous annual up to 60 cm.
Leaves linear to linear-narrowly elliptic, acute, 10-50 by 2-10 mm.
Inflorescence a loosely branched panicle with rather large flowers;
Petals white, often with dark veins, 6-12 mm, cuneate, emarginate.
Capsule ellipsoid, 3-4.5 mm, longer than calyx.
Seeds c. 1 mm, black, rugose, with obtuse tubercles.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Jawa (Jawa cultivated); Philippines (Philippines cultivated), From southern Russia throughout the Middle East present
From southern Russia throughout the Middle East Widely cultivated. In Malesia particularly cultivated in Java and the Philippines.
Morphology
Several colour varieties are in cultivation.
Citation
Backer & Bakh. f. 1963 – In: Fl. Java: 212
Lu Dequan 1996 – In: Fl. Reip. Pop. Sin.: 447
