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Herbs annual. Leaves alternate, sessile, linear to lanceolate, complanate, semiterete, or terete, membranous or fleshy, densely hairy. Flowers solitary or forming a spike, sessile, without bracts or bractlets, bisexual. Perianth discoid, 5-lobed, hairy; segments equal; abaxial appendages uncinate, subulate, or triangular in fruit. Stamens 5. Ovary broadly ovoid; style short; stigmas 2 or 3. Utricle depressed ovoid; pericarp membranous, free from seed. Seed horizontal, depressed globose; embryo annular.
Fls perfect, solitary or in short spikes from the upper axils, forming terminal spikes or spike-like panicles; sep 5, pubescent, incurved in fl, persistent and incurved over the fr, and developing dorsal appendages; stamens 5; ovary depressed-globose; styles filiform; seed horizontal, the embryo annular; shrubs or annual herbs with much-branched stems, numerous small, hairy lvs, and minute fls, villous at least in the infl. 20, Old World.
