Psilotrichum

Perennial herbs or subshrubs, prostrate to erect or scandent, trichotomously branched. Leaves opposite or partly alternate, ovate or elliptic-lanceolate, entire. Inflorescences axillary and terminal, sessile to long-pedunculate, bracteate heads or spikes or broad, lax, panicles; bracts persistent, finally spreading or deflexed. Flowers bisexual, solitary in axils of bracts; bracteoles 2, falling with fruit. Tepals 5, free, inner 2 with broader hyaline margin than outer 2, with central intermediate, sometimes gibbous at base, usually pubescent on outer surface. Stamens 5, shortly monadelphous at base, without or rarely with small alternating pseudostaminodes; anthers 2-thecous. Ovary subglobose or oblong in outline; ovule solitary, suspended from a long, basal funicle; style slender but rather short; stigma bifid or capitate. Capsule thin-walled, indehiscent, enclosed in hardened base of perianth. Seed smooth, lenticular, brownish.