线叶粟米草 xian ye su mi cao

Pharnaceum cerviana Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 272. 1753.

Herbs small, to 8 cm. Root thin. Stems numerous, ascending, thin, stiff. Leaves sessile, basal leaves in a rosette; cauline leaves in pseudowhorls of 3-10, gray-green, linear, 5-10 × 0.3-0.5 mm, apex acute. Inflorescences terminal or seemingly axillary, trichotomous umbellate cymes. Pedicel 7-8 mm, thin, stiff. Tepals 5, elliptic to oblong, 2-2.5 mm, midvein green, margin white membranous. Stamens 3-5, shorter than tepals. Styles 3, short. Capsule broadly ellipsoid, ca. as long as tepals or slightly shorter. Seeds numerous, brown, slightly shiny, D-shaped, ca. 0.2 mm, reticulate. Fl. Jun-Jul. 2n = 18.

Dry sands, roadsides, shady and wet fields; 400-1200 m. Hebei, Xinjiang [India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka; Africa, S to SE Asia, Australia, S Europe].

This species is used medicinally. It is a very inconspicuous and easily overlooked ephemeral.