Whitesnow

Contrary to J. A. Duke (1961), it appears best to consider Drymaria cordata as introduced in North America. The earliest collections were made in Florida in the early 1900s.

This species is used medicinally and is a widely distributed, noxious weed.

Plants annual. Stems straggling, sometimes subscandent, usually rooting at lower nodes, 60--90 cm, mostly glabrous, minutely papillose toward inflorescence. Stipules membranous, splitting into few whitish setae. Petiole poorly defined, 3--7 mm; leaf blade ovate-cordate, (0.5--)1--3(--3.5) × 0.6--3 cm, prominently 3--5-veined from base. Bracts lanceolate, scarious. Pedicel 3--5 mm, slender, glandular hairy. Sepals lanceolate-ovate, 2--3.5(--5) mm, margin membranous, 3-veined, glandular hairy, apex subacute. Petals white, obovate-cuneate, ca. 2.5 mm, deeply 2-cleft; segments narrow, apex ± acute. Stamens 2--3(--5), shorter than sepals. Styles 3, connate at base. Capsule ovoid, (1.5--)2--3 mm in diam., 3-valved. Seed dark brown, suborbicular, ca. 1.5 mm, regularly densely tuberculate. Fl. Apr--Oct, fr. Jun--Dec.

Africa, America, naturalised in India, Pacific Is.

Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hunan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [native to Central and South America].

2200-4300 m

Damp shaded sites, often near streams or under shrubs, disturbed areas; 200--1900(--2400) m.

Holosteum cordatum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 88. 1753

Holosteum cordatum Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 88. 1753; Dry-maria cordata subsp. diandra (Blume) J. A. Duke; D. diandra Blume.