Sciaphila densiflora Schltr.

Erect herb, seldom branched and if so, then at the base, c. 6-43 cm high. Roots filiform, c. 0.15-0.30 mm in CS, sometimes branched, with hairs. Stem c. 0.5-1.2 mm in CS, glabrous, internodes c. 3-55 mm long. Leaves oblong-ovate to ovate, acute, c. 1.5-5 by c. 0.6-2.5 mm, mostly semi-amplexicaul, appressed. Racemes 1-21.5 cm long, with c. 7-120 flowers, from very dense (100 flowers on 12 cm) to rather lax (35 flowers on 14 cm). Flowers all around, sometimes with a tendency towards one side. Bracts lanceolate, acute, c. 1-2 (-3.5) by c. 0.4-1 (-1.5) mm, mostly appressed to the pedicel, the top often a little (10-20°) patent. Pedicels 3-25 mm long and 0.1-0.2 mm in CS, (45-) 60-90° patent, recurved, straight for a smaller or larger part of the length, sometimes a bit sinuous, the flowers always hanging down. ♂ Flowers: perianth segments 6, 3 larger ones alternating with 3 smaller ones, all completely reflexed and at the top long-bearded; larger segments long-triangular, (0.6-) 1.3-2 by (0.2-) 0.3-0.5 mm, the top abruptly contracting into a long narrow point (c. ⅓ of the length); smaller segments long-triangular, acute, (0.5-) 0.8-1.5 by c. 0.2-0.4 mm wide. Stamens 6, c. 0.2 mm; filaments short; anthers 3-lobed. ♀ Flowers: perianth like in the male flower, but the larger segments c. 1-2.5 by c. 0.3-0.7 mm and the smaller segments 0.7-1.5 by c. 0.4-0.6 mm. Carpels c. 15-40, 0.3-0.55 mm; style club-shaped, inserted laterally at the base or about halfway, exceeding the carpel when young; apex with many hairs and papillae.

Local and uncommon plant in rain-forest, often on ridge crests, dry ridges, limestone rocks, clay or sandy or poor stony soils, rooting in raw humus or deep leaf litter, mostly in shade, 100-1200 m, once at c. 1950 m. Fl. Feb.-Nov.