Calyptridium monandrum Nuttall in J. Torrey and A. Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 1: 198. 1838

Plants annual, taprooted. Stems 2 or more from each rosette, spreading to decumbent, 1.5-18 cm. Leaves basal and cauline; basal withering in fruit, in single, prostrate rosette, blade spatulate, 1-5 cm; cauline leaf blades spatulate, 1-2(-4) cm. Inflor-escences racemose or paniculate cymes, scorpioid when immature, loose. Flowers subsessile; sepals ovate, unequal, 1-2 mm, herbaceous, margins scarious; petals (2-)3, pink to reddish, 1-3 mm; stamens 1(-3), anther yellow; style absent; stigmas 2. Capsules ovoid to cylindric, somewhat falcate, 4-8 mm; valves 2. Seeds 4-10, black, orbicular, 0.3-0.7 mm, shiny. 2n = 44.

Flowering Mar-Jun. Open sandy areas, burns; 0-2100 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev.; Mexico (Baja California).