1. Monolepis nuttalliana (Roem. & Schult.) Greene (poverty weed)

Pl. 358 i, j; Map 1548

Plants annual, the taproot not tuberous-thickened. Stems 8–35 cm long, loosely to strongly ascending, slightly succulent, not appearing jointed, few- to much-branched, sparsely to moderately mealy when young, becoming glabrous or nearly so at maturity. Leaves alternate, well developed, progressively reduced toward the stem tip, somewhat succulent, short- to long-petiolate. Leaf blades 0.5–4.0 cm long, linear to elliptic-triangular or ovate-triangular, at least the largest ones with a pair of prominent, spreading to loosely ascending lobes below the midpoint, flattened in cross-section, not clasping the stem, narrowed to a sharply or less commonly bluntly pointed tip, mostly tapered at the base, the margins otherwise entire, the surfaces sparsely to moderately mealy when young, becoming glabrous or nearly so at maturity. Inflorescences axillary, consisting of small flower clusters (rarely solitary flowers), sometimes appearing as an interrupted terminal spike, the flowers not sunken into the axis. Flowers perfect (often a few pistillate flowers also present in each cluster). Bracts absent, but occasional flowers toward the base of each cluster lacking stamens and pistils, the remaining sepals thus appearing bractlike. Calyx of 1 sepal, this persistent at fruiting, not enclosing the fruit, not winged, positioned along one side of the ovary, 0.7–1.2 mm long, narrowly oblanceolate to spatulate. Stamen 1 (sometimes absent). Ovary superior. Styles 2, short, fused toward the base, the stigmas 1 per style, linear. Fruits 1.0–1.5 mm long, broadly elliptic in cross-section, broadly ovate in outline, somewhat flattened laterally, indehiscent or irregularly dehiscent, the wall thin and papery to membranous, with a faint network of ridges and pits. Seed adhering loosely to the fruit wall, positioned vertically, 0.8–1.4 mm long, broadly ovate in outline, somewhat flattened, the surface smooth, dark brown to black, shiny, the coiled embryo usually apparent. 2n=18. April–September.

Introduced, uncommon and sporadic (western U.S. east to Minnesota and Texas; Canada; introduced sporadically farther east). Pastures, railroads, and open, disturbed areas.

Steyermark (1963) considered this species native in Missouri, which is along the eastern edge of its natural distribution. However, to date no plants have been discovered growing in a natural habitat, and Bush’s early collections from the Kansas City area, where native occurrences might have been expected, are indicated as introduced.