Polycarena filiformis Diels

Delicate annual herb 120-250 mm tall, stem rarely simple, usually well-branched from the base, glandular-pubescent becoming glandular-puberulous to almost glabrous on the inflorescence axes. Leaves c. 4.5-20 x 0.6-4 mm, diminishing in size upwards, lower ones oblanceolate to linear, upper mostly linear, base tapered, petiole-like, margins few-toothed in the larger leaves, entire in the smaller, both surfaces glandular-pubescent. Flowers in terminal racemes, peduncles filiform, pedicels up to 0.5 mm long, rather distant. Bracts 2.5-3 x 0.4-1 mm, oblong, glandular-pubescent, adnate to lower part of calyx tube (0.5-1 mm). Calyx 2.25-3.5 mm long, anticous lobes very short, posticous lobe c. 1 x 0.4 mm, all lobes distinctly keeled, glandular-pubescent all over outside, often flushed with purple. Corolla tube 2.6-3.6 x 0.75-1 mm, glabrous, limb 4-5.5 mm across, white, lobes oblong or elliptic, obtuse, posticous ones 1-1.75 x 1-1.5 mm, anticous ones 1.5-2.25 x 0.75-1.25 mm, posticous lip either glabrous at the base inside or with a few minute hairs, and possibly with a yellow patch there. Stamens all well exserted, anthers c. 0.8 mm long, blackish, posticous filaments decurrent to base of tube. Stigma exserted. Capsule 2-3 x 1.5-2.75 mm Seeds 4 in each loculus, 1-1.5 mm long, obscurely 3-angled, amber-coloured, irregularly colliculate, with a narrow whitish wing weakly to strongly developed.