Olsynium

Rafinesque

New Fl. 1: 72. 1836.

Common names: Grass widow
Etymology: said by Rafinesque to mean hardly united, alluding to the stamens
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 350. Mentioned on page 17.

Herbs, perennial, strongly cespitose, rootstock indistinct. Stems simple, terete. Leaves 2–4, cauline, alternate, reduced basally; blade basally clasping or terete. Inflorescences rhipidiate, 1–5-flowered; spathes 2, green, leaflike, unequal, apex acute or, rarely, obtuse. Flowers not fragrant, actinomorphic; tepals distinct, reddish purple to magenta, occasionally pink or white, not clawed, ± equal; stamens symmetrically arranged; filaments connate to 1/2 their length; anthers parallel, not appressed to style branches; style branches 3, filiform, short, extending between anthers. Capsules globose to obovoid or broadly turbinate, ± smooth to distended around seeds, apex broadly rounded, basal 0.2 mm of styles sometimes persistent. Seeds many, obconic, angular; seed coat brown, coarsely rugulose. x = 32.

Distribution

North America, South America.

Discussion

Species 12 (1 in the flora).

Lower Taxa