Nodding pinweed Nodding pinweed

Subshrubs. Stems: basal not produced; flowering spreading-ascending, (10–)20–30 cm, densely sericeous. Leaves of flowering stems alternate; blade elliptic-ovate to orbiculate, 5–12 × 4–10 mm, apex acute, <often mucronate>, abaxial surface pilose to tomentose, adaxial pilose. Pedicels 2–3 per axil, 1.5–2.5 mm. Flowers: calyx 1.8–2 mm, outer sepals shorter than inner. Capsules ellipsoid to obovoid, 1.8–2 × 1.2–1.5 mm, ± equaling calyx. Seeds 1–2.

Flowering spring; fruiting summer–fall. Dry, open sand-scrub and flatwoods margins; 0–50 m; Fla.

Lechea cernua is endemic to much of peninsular Florida but is absent from the Florida Keys and panhandle.