Erect herb up to 90 cm. high, annual or perennial, often woody at the base, glabrous in all parts.. Stems terete, obscurely longitudinally ridged.. Leaves all alternate, linear-lanceolate to linear, 5–25 mm. long, 1–3 mm. wide, apiculate or sharply acuminate, margin scabrid-setulose, rarely entire.. Stipules globose, small, dark brown, persistent.. Inflorescence a many-flowered, lax or compact, monochasial, paniculate or corymbose cyme; pedicels 1–11 mm. long; bracts linear.. Sepals 5, ovate or elliptic-ovate, long-acuminate, with glandular-serrulate margin; midrib prominent only in basal half to two-thirds of sepal.. Petals 5, obovate, rounded or bluntly apiculate, yellow or orange-yellow, often fading white before falling, also occasionally purple-veined.. Stamens 5.. Styles 5; stigmas capitate.. Capsule globose, 2–3 mm. in diameter, equalling or shorter than the persistent calyx, straw-coloured.. Seeds flattened, ± 1 mm. long, shining, light brown.. Fig. 3.
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