Holosteum L.

Herbs, small, glabrous below, glandular-hairy above. Leaves opposite, exstipulate, narrow. Flowers in terminal umbel-like cymes, 5-merous. Sepals 5, free. Petals 5, toothed or jagged, white. Stamens 3 - 5 (-10); nectaries present. Ovary 1-locular, many-ovuled; styles 3, rarely 4 or 5. Capsules cylindrical, opening by 6 revolute teeth; seeds peltate, concave-convex, papillose.

Central Europe, the Mediterranean region and Western Asia; ca 6 species, one species in India.

List of Lower Taxa