Skiatophytum

Annual or usually perennial herbs with prostrate annual branches from a short, rosette-bearing perennial stem; sometimes suckering from extensive root system. Leaves alternate but often apparently opposite on young branches; +/- spatulate-lanceolate, up to +/- 100 x 20 mm on branches, up to +/- 200 x 30 mm in rosette, 2-3 mm thick, soft, smooth, slightly fleshy, margins undulate when young. Flowers solitary, with ebracteate pedicel up to 60 mm long, up to +/- 45 mm in diameter; opening at noon. Sepals 5, unequal. Petals in several series, margins papillate, snow-white. Stamens and staminodes present. Nectary a crenulate ring. Ovary shortly conical; placentas parietal; stigmas (4)5(-7), subulate, +/- as long as stamens. Fruit a (4)5-7-locular capsule, large, obconic; valves without expanding keels or marginal wings, with upper distal seed chambers; valves open on drying (xerochastically) and remain open. Seeds somewhat kidney-shaped, tuberculate; dispersal as a tumble fruit and by scattering. F lowering during spring and summer. D istinguishing characters: annuals or perennials with flat, alternate leaves which have undulated margins when young and may appear opposite; flowers white; capsule valves open upon drying and remain open.