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Slender biennial herb up to 30-(35) cm high. Stems glabrous, simple to much-branched at base. Stem lvs always opposite, glabrous, oblong to narrowly elliptic-obovate, usually obovate at base of stem, obtuse to acute, 1-veined, entire, (3)-5-12-(15) mm long; lvs subtending infl.-branches single or paired, similar to stem lvs but shorter, narrower and sometimes acuminate. Infl. of few to numerous fls in a diffuse compound dichasium; sepals elliptic, acuminate, glandular, ciliate, 2-3 mm long, slightly < or ± = to capsule; petals white, about 2× as long as sepals, 3.5-5 mm long; styles free to base. Capsule glabrous, globose, dehiscent, 2-3 mm diam.; seeds boat-shaped, shiny light brown, c. 1 mm long.
Glabrous annual 1–3 dm, simple below, branched above into a dichasial cyme; lvs all or mostly opposite, oblong to obovate, 3–15 mm; pedicels very slender, terete, the lowest 10–25 mm, the upper shorter; sep glandular-ciliate; pet white with a yellow claw, 4–8 mm; staminodia tiny, triangular; fr ovoid-globose, 2–2.5 mm, fragile; false septa incomplete, long-ciliate; 2n=16. Native of Europe; intr. in disturbed sites from Nf. and N.S. to N.J. and Pa., w. to n. Mich. July–Sept. (L. pratense; Cathartolinum c.)
Annual, usually branched from base; stems ascending to erect to 30 cm long. Leaves opposite, narrowly elliptical to obovate, 5–10 mm long, obtuse, sessile. Inflorescence a lax panicle. Sepals ovate to lanceolate, c. 2.5 mm long, acuminate. Petals narrowly obovate, 4–6 mm long, white. Anthers white. Styles free, appearing connivent. Capsule c. 3 mm diam. Seeds c. 1 mm long, brown.
