针叶苋 zhen ye xian

Illecebrum monsoniae Linnaeus f., Suppl. Pl. 161. 1782; Achyranthes monsoniae (Linnaeus f.) Persoon; A. setacea Roth; Aerva monsoniae (Linnaeus f.) C. Martius; Celosia monsoniae (Linnaeus f.) Retzius; Trichurus monsoniae (Linnaeus f.) C. C. Townsend.

Herbs perennial, 5-50 cm tall. Stem branched from base; branches ascending or stoloniferous, white lanose. Leaves opposite or nearly whorled, sessile, grayish green, subulate, linear, 1-2.5 cm × ca. 1 mm, abaxially white lanose, adaxially glabrous, base attenuate, sometimes vaginate. Spikes terminal, narrowly ovate or terete, 0.5-2.5 cm, 3-5 mm in diam., white lanose; rachis very short or absent. Bracts and bracteoles lanceolate, 1-2 mm, abaxially white lanose. Tepals 4, light red, subulate-lanceolate, ca. 2 mm, white lanose. Stamens 4 or 5, shorter than perianth; pseudostaminodes subulate, membranous. Utricles ovoid, 1.5-2 mm, circumscissile at apex. Seeds brown, slightly shiny, ovoid, 1-1.5 mm, smooth. Fl. Apr-Aug, fr. Aug-Nov.

In sand at seashores; sea level. Hainan [India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam].