Holosteum umbellatum L.

Holosteum species are annual herbs, stem erect or ascending, simple or much branched from the base, angular or terete, glandular hairy or glabrous, rootstock slender, stout. Leaves simple, opposite, forming a rosette in the base, basal leaves, oblanceolate to spathulate, margin entire, apex obtuse, 1-veined, pubescent or glabrous, petiolate, cauline leaves, ovate elliptic, base clasping, margin entire, apex acute, somewhat succulent, pubescent, 1-veined, sessile, stipules absent. Inflorescence usually in terminal, umbellate cymes. Flowers bisexual rarely unisexual, pistillate, pentamerous, pedicel reflexed after flowering, erect in fruit, bracts 2-4, clustered, leaf-like, margins scarious, sepals 5, free, lanceolate-ovate, margins scarious, whitish, herbaceous, apex obtuse to acute, petals 5, free, white, pink, base clawed, jagged or toothed, margin entire. Stamens 3-5 (10), filaments distinct, anthers 2-locular, yellowish, staminodes absent, nectarines present. Ovary superior, unilocular, ovules numerous, styles 3, rarely 5. Fruit capsule, ovoid-cylindrical, dehiscing by 6 revolute teeth, carpophores absent. Seeds 30-60, peltate, concave-convex, brown to orange, compressed dorsiventrally, brown to orange, embryo erect, papillose.

Holosteum species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary; rarely unisexual. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: March-April/May-September.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals.

Annual herbs, about 5-25 cm tall, stem slender, erect or ascending, simple or much branched from the base, terete, glandular hairy, glaucous towards the base, rootstock slender, stout. Leaves simple, opposite, forming a rosette in the base, basal leaves, oblanceolate to spathulate, about 10-25 x 3-6 mm across, margin entire, apex acute, 1-veined, pubescent beneath, glabrous above, petiole very short, cauline leaves, narrow ovate elliptic, about 7-20 x 2-5 mm across, base clasping, margin entire, apex acute, somewhat succulent, pubescent beneath, 1-veined, sessile, stipules absent. Inflorescence usually in terminal, umbellate cymes. Flowers bisexual rarely unisexual, pistillate, pentamerous, pedicel reflexed after flowering, erect in fruit, about 1-1.5 cm long, bracts 2-4, clustered, leaf-like, margins scarious, sepals 5, free, lanceolate-ovate, margins scarious, whitish, herbaceous, apex obtuse to acute, about 3-4 mm long, petals 5, free, white, pink, base clawed, jagged or toothed, margin entire, longer than the sepals. Stamens 3-5 (10), filaments distinct, anthers 2-locular, yellowish, staminodes absent, nectarines present. Ovary superior, unilocular, ovules numerous, styles 3. Fruit capsule, ovoid-cylindrical, about 4-6 mm long, dehiscing by 6 revolute teeth, carpophores absent. Seeds 30-60, peltate, concave-convex, about 0.5 mm across, brown to orange, compressed dorsiventrally, reddish brown, embryo erect, papillose.

Holosteum species are susceptible to various insect pests, viruses, root rots, powdery mildews and moulds.

Temperate Himalayas, altitude 1500-2800 m.

Not evaluated (IUCN).

Used in folk medicine.