6. Gossypianthus Hooker, Icon. Pl. 3: plate 251. 1840.
Cottonflower [Latin gossypion, cotton, and Greek anthemon, flower, presumably in reference to the villous tepals]
Steven E. Clemants
Herbs, perennial. Stems prostrate [or ascending], much-branched, indument of simple hairs. Leaves opposite, petiolate; blade linear to lanceolate, spatulate, or ovate, margins entire; basal leaves persistent. Inflorescences axillary, sessile, few-flowered glomerules; bracts and bracteoles membranous. Flowers bisexual; tepals 5, distinct, 3-veined; stamens 5; filaments connate basally into tube, ± free from perianth; anthers 2-locular; pseudostaminodes absent; ovule 1; style 1, ca. 0.2 mm; stigmas 2-lobed, capitate. Utricles broadly ovoid, membranous, indehiscent. Seeds 1, brown, lenticular-orbicular.
Species 2 (1 in the flora): North America, Mexico, West Indies.
SELECTED REFERENCES
Henrickson, J. 1987. A taxonomic reevaluation of Gossypianthus and Guilleminea (Amaranthaceae). Sida 12: 307-337. Mears, J. A. 1967. Revision of Guilleminea (Brayulinea) including Gossypianthus (Amaranthaceae). Sida 3: 137-152.
