Herbs perennial, forming aerial portion only for a few months during early summer. Stem erect or climbing, branched distally, 9-32 cm, forming a tuber to 8 mm in diam. below ground, glabrous or with black, papillose glands. Basal leaves densely whorled, or absent in some populations, exstipulate, yellowish green to green; petiole 2-8 mm; leaf blade peltate, orbicular to suborbicular, 2-4 × 6-8 mm; some leaves reduced, linear, ca. 2 mm. Cauline leaves alternate, remote, exstipulate, yellowish green; petiole 0.8-1.3 cm; leaf blade peltate or lunate to semiorbicular, 2-3 × 4-5 mm, margin glandular hairy. Inflorescence terminal; cincinnus 2-6 cm, 3-22-flowered; bracts cuneate to oblanceolate or subulate; pedicels 0.6-2 cm. Sepals 5-7, united near base, yellowish green, lanceolate to ovate, 2-4 mm × ca. 1.5 mm, glabrous to glandular hairy, apex 5-7-fid. Petals usually white, rarely pink or red, oblong-cuneate, 4-6 × 2-3 mm. Stamens 5, 2-4 mm. Ovary subglobose, ca. 1.5 mm in diam.; placentas 3; styles 3, 2-5-parted, ca. 0.8 mm; stigma 2- or 3-fid. Capsule subglobose, (2 or)3(-5)-valved, 2-4 mm. Seeds ellipsoid-ovoid to globose, ca. 0.4 mm; venation scrobiculate.

Anodyne, blood tonic and carminative (plant)

Plants for a Future

Helps speed the clearance of toxins in arthritis and rheumatism (leaves)