Family - Scrophulariaceae

Stems - Glabrous to glandular pubescent, multiple from base, from fibrous roots or a small taproot, simple to branching, erect or ascending, herbaceous, often purplish below, to +/-20cm tall.

Stem at a node.

Leaves - Opposite, decussate, green and often reddish at apex. Lower leaves petiolate. Petioles to -1cm long. Blades ovate, shallow crenate, glabrous to glandular pubescent, to 1.3cm long. Upper leaves sessile, to 2cm long, 6-7mm broad, glabrous to glandular pubescent, oblong to oblanceolate, coarsely serrate to crenate-serrate, reduced to foliaceous bracts in inflorescence.

Inflorescence - Loose terminal raceme. Flowers appearing as single axillary flowers because of subtending foliaceous bracts.

Flowers - Corolla deeply 4-lobed, white, glabrous, to 4mm long. Lobes 2mm long, to 2mm broad, obtuse at apex. Stamens 2, included to slightly exserted. Style short, to .3mm long. Ovary obcordate, compressed, glabrous to glandular pubescent, green. Calyx deeply 4-lobed. Lobes 4-5mm long, 1.1mm broad, linear-oblong, glabrous, erect. Capsule to +/-4mm long and broad at apex, obcordate, glabrous to glandular pubescent.

Flowering - April - August.

Habitat - Moist ground, roadsides, railroads.

Origin - Native to U.S.

Other info. - This plant is very small and the flowers are inconspicuous and often overlooked. The flowers also wilt quickly when hit with hot direct sun.
This species is common throughout Missouri and can grow anywhere if the soil is moist.
Steyermark lists two varieties for the state. Variety peregrina is glabrous throughout, and var. xalapensis (HBK.) Pennell is glandular pubescent.

Photographs taken in Brown Summit, NC., 4-4-03.