Herbs, perennial. Stems: basal produced; flowering erect, 25–80 cm, sparsely sericeous, glabrescent. Leaves of flowering stems opposite or subopposite; blade linear to narrowly elliptic, 15–30 × 1.5–3 mm, apex acute, indurate, abaxial surface hairy on midvein and, sometimes, margins, adaxial glabrous. Pedicels 1 per axil, 1–2.3 mm. Flowers: calyx 1.4–2 mm, outer sepals shorter than inner. Capsules subglobose, 1.5–2.2 × 1.3–1.6 mm, longer than calyx. Seeds 2–3(–4).

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora): e North America.

Intergradation among the varieties of Lechea pulchella in areas of overlap is common (B. A. Sorrie and A. S. Weakley 2007b). Some authors (K. Barringer 2004; R. L. Wilbur 1966) have not recognized infraspecific taxa.

Lower Taxa

• Lechea pulchella var. moniliformis (E. P. Bicknell ex Britton) Mohlenbrock
• Lechea pulchella var. pulchella
• Lechea pulchella var. ramosissima (Hodgdon) Sorrie & Weakley